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American Diabetes Association to host event to raise money for research

The American Diabetes Association is holding Step Out to raise money for diabetes research Sunday at 2 p.m. on the Quad.  
According to the ADA website, walking is essential to those with diabetes because it helps control blood glucose levels. It also helps prevent Type 2 diabetes.
The fundraiser is essential because it is helping promote healthiness to those with and without diabetes while raising money. The walk will be at Tech for those who have diabetes and could benefit from participating and knowing about this event.
 “I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was a freshman in high school, and the biggest obstacle for me was probably learning how to manage my diabetes with my new schedule in college,” junior Krystal Looney said. “I have not heard anything about the diabetes walk here at Tech, but I would love to read and hear all about it if there is one.”  
Greg Lessley, a member of Nashville’s division of ADA, said, “25.8 million Americans in the U.S. have diabetes. 79 million people in the U.S. are borderline diabetic. This Step Out walk is the first one held in Cookeville. We have held the walk in Nashville for years. I am hoping the walk will get the word out to students and faculty to be aware in the future, if all goes well, and come out to participate and support in finding a cure for diabetes.”
There are currently 12 teams and 73 participants registered for the Step Out.
“I have had diabetes since about the seventh grade, and at first I was in denial,” senior Sarah Daves said. “And still years later, I am trying to come to terms for what it means for me. Having diabetes requires a complete change in lifestyle.”
According to the ADA website, more than 150,000 participants from more than 130 walk events across the country raised more than $20 million last year.
“If trends continue today, since 2000, one in every three people will have diabetes,” Lessley said. “By registering, you will be helping contribute to the nine researchers with $2.6 million in researcher grants to find a cure.
“We are fighting an epidemic right now, and one day we will find a cure,” Lessley said.
For more information, visit Cookeville’s Step Out website at www.main.diabetes.org/Cookeville.