Turning Type 1 Into Type None

FARMINGTON DIABETES WALK RAISES $20,000

FARMINGTON — It was a hot day Saturday but not too hot for hundreds of Farmington residents to show up and walk in support of finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

The theme for the 12th annual Farmington Walk to Cure Diabetes was “Turn Type One into Type None.”

Through donations, t-shirt sales, sponsorships and silent and live auctions, the walk reached its 2016 goal to raise about $20,000.

“I was excited about the walk this year,” said Stephanie Lovell, coordinator. “We had great community support. I was excited to see so many people come out and walk.”

“This is a great thing about our community,” Penn said, adding he has participated in all 12 walks. “God has blessed our community and all the things we’ve accomplished.” Farmington Mayor Ernie Penn and Bryan Law, superintendent of schools, welcomed participants to the walk, both noting the event is proof of a community that cares.

Law mentioned the weather.

“This is without a doubt the hottest year we’ve had. We’ve been out here in rain and cold and we’ll be here today,” Law said.

Farmington School District has six students diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and the school has a great relationship with the Farmington Walk to Cure, Law said. To do their part, Farmington schools sponsored a hat day and students paid one dollar to wear a hat to school. In all, students raised $ 1,100 to donate to the walk.

“It’s wonderful to see the community come together,” Law said.

For most of its time, the Farmington walk has been coordinated by two families, the Winkles and Baileys, of Farmington. They began participating in the Walk to Cure program sponsored by the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation when their children were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Last year, Stephanie Lovell of Farmington and her family assumed leadership of the Farmington walk. Lovell’s son, Beau, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about two years ago.

The 2016 Walk to Cure had 22 sponsors, 300 walkers and about 20 volunteers who helped the day of the walk.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Addison Alford, left, and her friend Emily Henson set up a lemonade stand with donations going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Addison deals with her own medical problems but Saturday, she was helping her classmates who have Type 1 diabetes.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER All with Type 1 diabetes, children and adults, were invited to the stage Saturday to release balloons to signify a world without Type 1 diabetes. Farmington School District has six students living with Type 1 diabetes, a life-long chronic disease.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Allie Cook, a junior at Farmington High Career Academies, sings the National Anthem on Saturday morning.