By Cathy Spaulding
There’s no telling how many laps third-grader Hunter Bartlebaugh and his schoolmates logged around St. Joseph Catholic School’s gym and parking lot Thursday afternoon, but he knew he was doing some good.
“We’re walking for diabetes,” he said catching his breath during a water break. “This helps keep away the disease called diabetes, and it’s deadly.”
Dozens of St. Joseph students of all ages walked indoors and outdoors Thursday as part of the Schoolwalk for Diabetes. The walk raised money for the American Diabetes Association and its efforts to fund research education and advocacy.
St. Joseph Principal Sandra Brewer said participants collected money over the past two weeks.
“I think they raised $1,700,” she said.
Physical education teacher Cindy Carey said 42 students signed up for the walk. Several older students, who did not sign up, helped escort the younger kids, set up the lap markers or served water.
“It’s neat that the big kids are helping with the little kids and earning their service hours,” Carey said. “I’m real proud of the kids and the way they participated.”
Rainy weather on Thursday moved part of the Schoolwalk into the school’s old gymnasium. However, when school officials decided the parking lot was dry enough, the walk was moved outside. A track of one-fourth mile was laid around the lot’s perimeter, Carey said.
As a result, instead of logging the number of laps or miles walked, participants walked for a full hour, she said.
St. Joseph science and math teacher Neil Workman had two reasons to walk: To help raise money and to boost his own health.
“I’m a teacher with diabetes,” he said. “When I turned 55, I got a surprise and found I had Type 2 diabetes. There’s a little girl here who has Type 1 diabetes.”
According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million Americans have diabetes, about 8 percent of the population. The total prevalence of diabetes has increased by 13.5 percent from 2005 to 2007, the association said.
The ADA Web site said diabetes is associated with an increased risk of several serious or life-threatening complications. About 224,092 people died from diabetes in 2002, the Web site said.
Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes, develops when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, which make the hormone that regulates blood glucose. Type 2 diabetes is a disorder in which cells do not use insulin properly.
Workman said he knows how to deal with his illness.
“You try to watch what you eat and you have to exercise,” he said.
Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email
