JDRF walks to fight diabetes

Thousands of walkers committed to treating and curing Type 1 diabetes will head out into parks and forest preserves on Sunday, Oct. 4, in Chicago and the suburbs to raise money for JDRF.

In DuPage County, supporters can join the One Walk at St. James Farm forest preserve in Warrenville. The 37th annual JDRF fundraising event honors Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo, a fierce supporter of JDRF who spent his life raising awareness to find a cure.

The walks aim to raise $4.2 million to help accelerate therapies that are key to moving toward a world free of Type 1 diabetes, such as the artificial pancreas system, which automatically delivers precise insulin and multi-hormone therapy.

JDRF is the world's largest charitable funder and advocate for Type 1 diabetes research, currently sponsoring $568 million in scientific research across 17 countries. JDRF Illinois is the largest of 80 chapters around the world.

JDRF One Walk locations include:

• Independence Grove, Libertyville (5K). The walk will start at 16400 W. Buckley Road. Check-in is at 8 a.m.

• Busse Woods, Schaumburg (5K). The walk will start at Ned Brown Meadow. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m.

• Chicago Lakefront (5K). The walk will start at Montrose Avenue at Lake Michigan. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m.

• Civic Plaza Park Levee District, Peoria (5K). The walk will start at 400 Richland St. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m.

• Warrenville, St. James Farm (3K). The walk will start at 2S541 Winfield Road. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m.

• Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College (2.5K/5K). The walk will start at 900 College Parkway. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m.

• Merrillville, Hidden Lake Park (5K). The walk will start at 6355 Broadway. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m.

To register for one of the walks, contact Lisa Hanneman of JDRF at (312) 447-7959 or lhanneman@jdrf.org; or Hilary Stoeberl of the Zeno Group, at (608) 395-9066 or hilary.stoeberl@zenogroup.com.