Lincolnshire students walk for diabetes

Students at Sprague School in Lincolnshire will start walking Friday to fight diabetes.

As students get their shoes laced up to take the fifth annual School Walk for Diabetes, here are some facts about this school-wide success to help others.

• Funds raised go to the American Diabetes Association, a non-for-profit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.

• Last year, Sprague students raised $24,040. This made Sprague School the top fundraising school in Illinois.

• Sprague has raised $88,666 over the past five years. For the past four years, it has been the top fundraising school in Illinois. "They want to be number one again this year," said John Rueth, the school's physical education teacher, who organizes the walk.

• Between 425 and 450 kindergarten through second-grade students will make the walk this year.

• While kindergartners walk on school property, first- and second-graders take a 3.5-mile walk to and from Ryerson Conservation Area. The students walk along the bike path supervised by Sprague faculty, Lincolnshire police and parent volunteers.

• Rueth, who has been a diabetic for 31 years, said the walk serves a double purpose for the kids. It teaches them that diabetes is the fastest growing disease in the U.S. But, he added, they also learn to help somebody else not as fortunate as them "with something they have no control over."

• While students may raise funds by contacting family and friends, individuals also may bring donations to the school office. Rueth said last year people dropped off checks totaling $600 to support the walk.

For more information, call Sprague School at (847) 945-6665.