Walkers step out to fight diabetes

Although Susan Bles has never been diagnosed, diabetes has been a large part of her life for years.

Her son Alex, 16, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 8 years old, her 23-year-old niece was diagnosed when she was a child and her mother-in-law also has had the disease for years.

She remembers constantly waking up at night to check her son's blood sugar or how hard it was to see him inject his insulin.

"The hardest part was knowing that it was never going away, there was never going to be a break," she said.

Bles, of Sycamore, saw a TV ad for the Step Out to Fight Diabetes Walk in 2006 and also heard about it from her sister, so she participated. She is now fundraising for this year's event.

The Kane County area walk is Oct. 14 at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. This is one of six walks sponsored by the American Diabetes Association in the Chicago area to raise money for diabetes education, research and awareness. The ADA says more than 800,000 in Illinois have the disease.

Participants raise money by getting people to sponsor them in the walk. Everyone can choose between a 3-mile or 5-mile walk. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 10 a.m.

Radio personality Kiki Vale of 1530 WJJG-AM will emcee the event and there will also be refreshments and live entertainment. More than $650,000 was raised during last year's walk.

"It's a great opportunity for (people) to honor their … loved ones," said Kenya Harris, associate director of communications at the American Diabetes Association, said. "It's a good family and friends fundraiser to participate in."

For Bles, the walk has been a friend and family affair. Her husband, four children including Alex, her sister and her niece all participated in last year's walk. Members of her husband's family were there and her friend Lucinda Corron, 98, of St. Charles showed up to support Alex.

She wasn't able to walk, but Bles pushed her on the trail in her wheelchair.

Last year her group raised nearly $1,100.

She said she was happy to be involved in the walk and looks forward to doing it again.

"When you see all the families (at the walk) you don't feel like you're the only one," Bles said.

The registration fee is $15. Preregistration is encouraged, but people can register the day of the event. For more information or to register for the event visit www.diabetes.org

If you go

What: Step Out to Fight Diabetes Walk

Where: Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., St. Charles

When: Oct. 14

Info: www.diabetes.org