News

Two agencies, seven events to fight diabetes Sunday

Posted October 01, 2009 11:00 pm

Eric Peterson

No matter what aspect of the fight against diabetes you support, there's sure to be an event near you somewhere in the suburbs this Sunday.

Not only will there be five Chicago-area locations for the 31st annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, but the American Diabetes Association also will hold two of its own annual walk fundraisers in the area.

The Ron Santo Walk exclusively supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, whose aim and focus differs from the American Diabetes Association, officials from both organizations say.

Patrick Reedy, executive director of the foundation's Illinois chapter, said his group focuses entirely on research efforts for Type 1 or juvenile diabetes, which has led to some promising breakthroughs on the horizon.

The association, on the other hand, spends money not only on research for all forms of diabetes but also on care and support of patients and their families, walk manager Sheena Jaglan said.

Santo himself believes there's a value in both groups. He's backed the foundation since his retirement from baseball because its sole goal of finding a cure is closest to his own.

"All the money goes to find a cure," Santo told the Daily Herald. "The American Diabetes Association helps you to live with it. All I care about is to find a cure. But I think both of them are out there for the same cause. People have to learn to live with it. I just had to learn it by myself."

In the Northwest suburbs, both groups used to hold their fall walks in tandem at Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village.

But this year, the association has moved its fundraiser to Didier Farms outside Buffalo Grove, Jaglan said.

The main reason for the move was to allow for family's to enjoy the farm's pumpkin patch, corn mazes and pony rides after the four-mile walk.

"We were looking for a new site that allowed participants to enjoy themselves post-event," Jaglan said.

The farm is further offering 10 tickets for food and entertainment to every walker who raises at least $75.

Another association walk takes place simultaneously Sunday beginning at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. A Saturday walk takes place in south suburban Homer Glen, and there's one in Chicago on Oct. 17.

The Ron Santo Walk's suburban locations will be at Busse Woods on Golf Road east of Route 53; Community Park at 1825 Short St. in Lisle; the visitor's center of Independence Grove in Libertyville; and Centennial Park, 15600 West Ave. in Orland Park.

There is also a Chicago lakefront route starting from Lawrence Avenue.

Santo will make an appearance in Libertyville before that walk.

The goal of this year's Ron Santo Walk is to raise $5.6 million, Reedy said.

Money raised in the past has helped lead to such potential breakthroughs as a type of "smart insulin" which activates itself when it encounters glucose, and an "artificial pancreas," which is a portable glucose monitor that could be worn by a diabetes patient.

As exciting as these possible developments might be, they are still seen as "bridges to a cure," with the ultimate goal remaining a biological remedy for diabetes, Reedy said.

Ron Santo

Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes: • Locations: Busse Woods on Golf Road east of Route 53; Community Park at 1825 Short St. in Lisle; Independence Grove in Libertyville; Centennial Park, 15600 West Ave. in Orland Park; and Chicago lakefront at Lawrence Avenue. • Sunday, Oct. 4. Check-in starts at 8 a.m. in Libertyville; 8:30 a.m. in all other locations. • Info: <a href="http://jdrfillinois.org" target="new">jdrfillinois.org</a>. American Diabetes Association's Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes: • Locations: Didier Farms, 16678 W. Aptakisic Road outside Buffalo Grove; and Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. • Sunday, Oct. 4; registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Another walk in Homer Glen takes place at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bengston's Pumpkin Farm. A Chicago walk is planned for Oct. 17. • Info: <a href="http://stepout.diabetes.org" target="new">stepout.diabetes.org</a>.