Port Macquarie-Hastings will host a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation One Walk on Sunday September 23.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The aim of the event is to draw attention and raise awareness of, type 1 diabetes.
However, the goal of the event is to draw people to the event who are also affected by type 2 diabetes.
Participants in One Walk can register online now or from 9am on the day of the walk. The 4.4 kilometre walk leaves at 10am for Town Beach. There is also a shorter walk.
Organiser and dietitian from JK Healthcare Jodie Kennett says the free event will feature a barbeque, face painting, health professionals' stalls plus a fun aspect.
"We will also be holding an Olympics with sack races for the family," she added.
"This is our third year of hosting the One Walk and we have received some wonderful support over those years.
"It is really important that any person with diabetes or their family and friends join us on this day. There will be plenty of information stands on the day with health professionals offering advice.
"As well, we will have bags of goodies to giveaway on the day."
The walk is an opportunity to raise much needed funds for research to prevent and treat Type 1 Diabetes and ultimately find a cure.
It also enables the community to get together who have a family member or friend with the daily challenges of this disease to connect with others and gain extra support.
It is really important that any person with diabetes or their family and friends join us on this day.
- Jodie Kennett
Mrs Kennett said T1D is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin, a hormone that turns food into energy.
"T1D strikes children and adults suddenly.
"It is not caused by diet or lifestyle and people with T1D require constant blood glucose testing through painful finger pricks, and a constant supply of insulin by injection or pump, just to stay alive."
The funds raised at JDRF One Walk are used to continue funding for critical type 1 diabetes research.
More than 120,000 Australians have this disease and there are more than seven new diagnoses each day.
A high proportion of males 13 per 100,000 compared with 10 per 100,000 are likely to be affected while the peak age for diagnosis in 2016 was 10 years to 19 years.
In a broader sense, diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia; increasing at a faster rate than other chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
All types of diabetes are increasing in prevalence. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10 per cent of all diabetes and is increasing; type 2 diabetes accounts for 85 per cent of all diabetes as is increasing; while gestational diabetes in pregnancy is increasing.
The JDRF One Walk is at Westport Park on Sunday September 23, 9am for registrations, 10am to start the walk.