Thousands come out to walk for a cure

The Cubs being eliminated in the playoffs may have disillusioned fans, but it did not deter the thousands of supporters who turned out Sunday for the 30th annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes.

After promoting it all season on his radio broadcasts, Santo himself was still in Los Angeles on Sunday, but his legions of fans carried on his mission.

"I know that he's thinking of you, and all that you're doing today is helping him with his sorrow - and our sorrow," quipped WGN Radio newscaster Steve Bertrand at the Northwest suburban site in Schaumburg, in warming up the crowd.

Officials with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation estimate nearly 35,000 supporters in all participated across the five sites, combining to raise an estimated $6.1 million to find a cure.

Busse Woods in Schaumburg and Chicago's lakefront drew the day's biggest crowds, said Nicolette Korlis, walk director, with nearly 10,000 walkers each, while Independence Grove in Libertyville and Centennial Park in Lisle drew approximately 6,500 participants. Walkers also participated in Orland Park.

At Busse Woods, much of the excitement was provided by teens. Stevenson High School cheerleading and poms teams greeted walkers as they arrived, while the Conant High School marching band played while teams set out.

"One of our classmates has diabetes," said Stevenson freshman Allie Pauley of Jeremy Olken, 14, both of Buffalo Grove. "We wanted to do what we can to help find a cure."

The Northwest suburban site drew the most family teams, including two that raised $50,000 last year. Samantha's Steppers, named in honor of 10-year-old Samantha Jacobsen of Schaumburg, and Team Maggie, honoring Maggie Monson, 15, of Lake Zurich, both returned this year with hopes of meeting or matching last year's totals.

"So many kids like me have diabetes," said Monson, a Lake Zurich High School freshman. "For every dollar raised, we're that much closer to finding a cure."

Her classmate, Drake Orser, 15, of Lake Zurich, also has juvenile diabetes, and his team, Drake's Defenders, gathered near hers. Orser suffered a knee injury in his sophomore football game over the weekend, but he credits his ability to play at all to the advancements made through research, including his insulin pump.

"I don't think of my diabetes that much," Orser said. "I just deal with it."

Besides raising the most money last year, Samantha's Steppers had one of the largest teams, driven by Conant students, in support of their social studies teacher, Eric Jacobsen, Samantha's father.

"Each year, we make it our goal to do this," Lynn Jacobsen said, "not just to raise money, but to educate people about insulin, and about diabetes."

If the young diabetes patients felt empowered by the huge turnout, so did their parents.

Cheryl Nowak of Mount Prospect took a break from checking off the nearly 75 members on her team, all in support of her 11-year-old son, Joey, to look over the thousands of supporters in Busse Woods.

"It's so encouraging to see this," said Nowak, a math teacher at St. Viator High School. "It's good for all of us."