On June 6, 2010 Yorkton hosted the Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes, put on by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The walk began at the Gallagher Centre and ended at Boston Pizza.
The JDRF was formed in 1974 by the parents of children diagnosed with diabetes, as a hope to finding a cure through research. The main goals of the JDRF are restoring normal glucose blood levels, preventing and reversing diabetes related complications, and preventing diabetes and its recurrence.
The Walk to Cure Diabetes is the JDRF's main fundraising event, and provides the opportunity to raise awareness about juvenile diabetes. The walk helps to raise funds to continue the essential research programs that are working towards finding a cure, as well as provide families with a day of exercise and fun. The funds raised will help to benefit the over 65,000 Saskatchewan residents currently living with juvenile diabetes.
The walk began at the Gallagher Centre with registration at 10 a.m., followed by the walk at 11 a.m. Drinks and snacks were provided at the Gallagher Centre, and the participants were given the chance to enter the draws for several donated door prizes. After a welcome from the organizers the participants proceeded to walk east down Broadway. Upon reaching Dairy Queen each walker was treated to an ice cream donated by the Yorkton Dairy Queen. The walk continued down Broadway until the walkers reached Boston Pizza where they were given pizza and drinks donated by Yorkton Boston Pizza. When the participants finished lunch they were offered a shuttle back to the Gallagher Centre courtesy of Terry Ortynsky Royal Ford of Yorkton.
Yorkton family ambassador Melanie Czinkota became involved after her son Thomas was diagnosed with diabetes, Thomas is also the youth ambassador. Czinkota was happy to see "such a great turn out," and noticed how important the walk was to all of the participants. Czinkota added that she received donations from people she doesn't even know, and stated that, "people have really supported the walk" here in Yorkton.
2010 marked the 11th year for the walk in Yorkton and it continues to grow in popularity each year. This year the walk had over fifty participants and $25,724.93 was raised through pledges and cash sponsors alone. If you would still like to make a donation you can visit www.jdrf.ca/walk.
