Caleb DeJong of Merrill has been named Youth Ambassador for the Annual JDRF One Walk on Oct. 6 at Pfiffner Park in Stevens Point. JDRF One Walk raises funds for Type 1 Diabetes research.
This year JDRF Northeast Chapter is aiming to raise more than $100,000 to help fund critically needed research to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. The walk brings together volunteers, supporters and teams representing businesses, families, and other organizations, who share JDRF’s vision to create a world without Type 1 Diabetes.
As the Youth Ambassador, Caleb DeJong, is encouraging people of all ages to participate in JDRF One Walk and enjoy a family-friendly event. The JDRF One Walk will be approximately 2 miles long and starts at 10 a.m. with check-in at 9 a.m.
Caleb, a sophomore at Merrill High School, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 7. Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults at any age. In Type 1 Diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, eventually eliminating insulin production from the body. Type 1 Diabetes requires rigorous 24/7 monitoring of blood glucose levels to avoid devastating complications. Type 1 Diabetes onset is sudden and unpreventable, and it is unrelated to diet or lifestyle.
For more information about JDRF One Walk visit www2.jdrf.org.