JDRF: Level 4, 80-84 Chandos Street, St Leonards NSW 2065 Tel 02 9966 0400 Fax 02 9966 0172 WWW www.jdrf.org.au
Event Alert
Walk to Cure Diabetes Perth
17th October 2010
The Walk to Cure Diabetes comes to town
The Walk to Cure Diabetes is a special event that brings together 40,000 members of the type 1
diabetes community each year with a shared goal of raising $2 million to find a cure.
Kids, families, friends and workmates will share a message of hope about type 1 diabetes while
celebrating their fundraising with a walk around Burswood Park.
Typically striking young people, type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that destroys the ability to produce
insulin, which is vital for life. An autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a
complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors - but not junk food or obesity.
Mike Wilson, CEO of JDRF, said the Walk to Cure Diabetes is important because type 1 diabetes
doesnt affect individuals but families, friends and workmates too.
The Walk to Cure Diabetes is a chance to come together to celebrate research progress and pay tribute
to the scientists who take us closer every year to a cure for type 1 diabetes.
Funds raised are part of a critical investment in Australian research, because type 1 diabetes is the
fastest growing chronic disease amongst Australian children. This situation is urgent.
Walk to Cure Diabetes
17th October from 9.30 am
Burswood Park Perth
All welcome to join 6000 supporters at the Walk to Cure Diabetes,
featuring Mix 94.5FMs The Big Couch, the Police Pipe Band, a
breakfast BBQ and Corporate games.
Members of Parliament will also show their support for the Walk to
Cure Diabetes including Roger Cook MLA, Member for Kwinana and
Tony O'Gorman JP MLA, Member for Joondalup
Interview and Photo Opps available: kids and adults with type 1 diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes the facts
There are 122,300 Australians with type 1 diabetes and with five new cases every day, Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. The
number of Australian children being diagnosed with this disease is increasing by 3% every year. Typically striking young people, type 1 diabetes
destroys the ability to produce insulin, which is vital for life. It requires an essential daily regime of multiple injections or continuous infusion of
insulin through a pump, as well as 6 8 finger-prick blood tests. Type 1 diabetes is associated with a significantly increased risk of serious
health complications. An autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a complex mixture of genetic and environmental
factors but not by an unhealthy diet or obesity. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the worlds largest not-for-profit supporter of
diabetes research and has invested over US$1.3 billion since inception in 1970. The mission of JDRF is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and
its complications through the support of research.
Interviews and Photo Opps Available.
For more information please contact Lyndal Howison on 0411 110 717