Richland students raise money to help fund diabetes research

Corey Noles photo Richland students raised more than $4,300 for the American Diabetes Association to help fund research and education efforts. Last year students raised $3,600 and had hoped to reach that goal again this year.

Nearly 300 Richland elementary and middle school students took part in a walk for diabetes Friday morning.

This is the third year in a row that Richland has participated in the walks and they still continue to earn more money each year.

"This year we just hope to beat what we collected last year," said school nurse and walk coordinator Louise Kennedy. "Last year we raised $3,600 and we'll be happy if we do that well again."

And happy she was. This year's walk raised a total of $4,335.46. Top collectors for the school were third-grader Maura Peterson and sixth-grader Austin Curtis.

Students have been raising money for the past two weeks for this event and have a little extra incentive this year. The top two fundraisers at each participating school will attend a workout at the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis this July.

All participants were treated to healthy snacks after their walk. Students were on hand giving out bottled water, apples and Goldfish crackers in an effort to emphasize the importance of exercise and diet.

The money raised by students will be sent to the American Diabetes Association (A.D.A.)to help fund research and education efforts.

There are an estimated 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7 percent of the population, who have diabetes.

The A.D.A.'s website lists several factors that increase ones risk of developing diabetes.

* People over age 45

* People who are overweight

* People who do not exercise regularly

* People of certain racial or ethnic groups

Kennedy feels that by participating in the walks and educating young people about diabetes maybe it will help to create a more educated group of young adults who will watch their health more closely.

The A.D.A. was created in 1940 and has been funding diabetes research since 1955. In 1997, 87 percent of all money earned by the foundation went directly to funding research awards and grants.

For more information call 1-800-DIABETES or visit their website at http://www.diabetes.org .