Department of Health
The Darwin Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk being held on Sunday 17 November is a fundraising walk to help support vital research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
The walk is being organised by the Royal Darwin Hospital Diabetes Education Unit, with assistance from some Darwin community members living with Type 1 diabetes. The event is open to everyone to attend, with a BBQ breakfast for a gold coin donation following the walk.
Elizabeth Watkins Credentialled Diabetes Educator with the RDH Diabetes Education Unit, said Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin – a hormone that turns food into energy. The disease strikes both children and adults suddenly and is not caused by diet or lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes requires regular blood-glucose testing through painful finger pricks, and a constant supply of insulin by injection or pump, just to stay alive.
She said data from the National Diabetes Service Scheme shows that just under 800 people in the Northern Territory have Type 1 diabetes, yet many people living with the condition have never met someone else with it.
“The event gives people in the Darwin region the opportunity to network with other people living with type 1 diabetes and their families and helps to create peer support networks.
“So far the Darwin JDRF One Walk has 50 walkers with over $3000 raised towards research to help find a cure to turn Type One into Type None.”
The walk will be held along the Esplanade starting from the PlaySpace Playground in Bicentennial Park. Check in opens at 7:30am with the walk kicking off at 8am.
Participants can opt to walk either a 2 or 4km loop along the Esplanade.
