Alexandra Papp is walking with Alex's Walkers on October 2, 2004 in Austin, TX.
Hi everyone!
As you all know, my name is Alex and I have juvenile diabetes. I've had diabetes for almost 10 years now. At times it can be incredibly hard to live with, but it is part of my life.
So what is juvenile diabetes? Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes, is a devastating disease that affects millions of people¿a large and growing percentage of them children. In type 1 diabetes, a person¿s pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone necessary to sustain life. In people with type 1 diabetes, the body¿s own immune system has attacked and destroyed its insulin producing beta cells (resulting in life-threateningly high levels of blood glucose), meaning insulin must be obtained from another source¿injections or an insulin pump. People with juvenile diabetes die an average of 15 years earlier than non-diabetics. There is some good news, though. For the first time, scientists are predicting that we CAN expect to see a cure well within our lifetime!
This year, I will once again be a part of JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes, along with one-half million other walkers across the country. JDRF's goal is to raise $80 million dollars with this walk. With this money, we hope to become much closer to the cure.
Now, more than ever, you can make a crucial difference. Won't you please give to JDRF as generously as possible? There are millions of diabetics out there - not just myself but hundreds of thousands of other children and adults. So with your help, together we can make the cure a reality!
With love and thanks,
Alex
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