HEATHER'S 19TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL WALK FOR DAD

Hello friend, and welcome to my fundraising page! Thank you so much for clicking that link!

I chose to use this photo of my dad lighting the candles on my 8th birthday cake because this is a special year for me. I'm turning 50, so my birthday has been on my mind more than usual. By using this photo this year, every time I come to this page, I see it and imagine he's still here and sharing my birthday with me, virtually at least.

Diabetes killed my dad in 2005, and I started walking that same year, just three months after he died. I can't believe this will be my NINETEENTH walk already. It seems unbelieveable, but since 2005, I've raised $48,226.43 through the generosity of so many of you who are reading this right now. I am so grateful.

I want to challenge myself this year to not just reach $50,000, but to raise as much as I can. So, I've made a nice big goal, and will use it to try to push myself to find 100 people who can donate $50. Or heck, 1000 people to give $5. Even you sharing my walk page with others can help! 

Usually I include a lot of terrible statistics about diabetes on this page, but this year, I won't do that. Sadly, with 11% of the U.S. adult population diabetic, and almost 50% of Americans over 65 having pre-diabetes, I think too many of us are far too familiar with this disease at this point. 

Diabetes is not going to go away on its own. It is only through our efforts together that we will tackle this.

Please help if you can.

When you donate:

You spread awareness of the devastating effects of diabetes.
You advocate for a child discriminated against in school because of diabetes.
You fund life-saving research. In 2022, this equalled 16 million dollars' worth of grants to 242 different projects at 117 different institutions across the U.S.!
You provide access to community programs, kids' camps and free resources that help those living with diabetes.

Thank you for making a donation to this cause that is so very important to me!