Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Diabetes Walk Raises $11,000 For JDRF
FARMINGTON — The baton was officially handed off for Farmington’s Hometown Diabetes Walk, from the original organizers to a new family dealing with juvenile diabetes.
Two families, Marion and Gina Bailey and Brett and Robyn Winkle, started Farmington’s juvenile diabetes walk 10 years ago. The couples met for the first time 16 years ago when both their children, Oakley Bailey and Derek Winkle, were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Gina Bailey spoke to those gathered for the 11th annual Farmington Walk to Cure Diabetes, held Oct. 3, reassuring everyone that both families will continue to support the walk and its cause.
“Our hearts and our passions are just as deep as they were,” Bailey said. “The school system is vital to this. We want to say thank you to this community and please, please continue to come back and support the walk.”
The families are passing the torch to Roy and Stephanie Lovell of Farmington. Their son, Beau, 9, was diagnosed last year with Type 1 diabetes.
“Stephanie and Roy are as passionate as the Baileys and Winkles,” said Gina Bailey. “As of today, we are the wind beneath their wings. They will take the helm and bring it onto a whole new level. We are already seeing that.”
The two families and their
volunteers were on hand last week to help with the walk. Next year, Bailey said she will try another role at the event.
“We’ve never walked all these years. Next year, we’re going to walk,” Bailey said.
Northwest Arkansas Collision Center has been a main sponsor for the diabetes walk. Ken Rue, owner, thanked the community for its support each year.
The Farmington walk has raised $ 577,000 over the past 10 years for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The 11th walk had more than 500 walkers and brought in another $ 11,000 to the overall total. This includes $3,800 from online donations, $4,000 the day of the walk, $1,500 from a live auction and basket raffles and $1,000 from a hat day sponsored by Farmington students.
Rue said one fact he’s learned about the research foundation is that it not only is trying to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes, it conducts research to help those with the disease live better lives.
“Yes, we want a cure but we also want them to have quality of life,” Rue said.
Eight students in Farmington School District have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and teachers talk to their kids about the disease and how it affects children, said Stephanie Pinkerton, assistant superintendent.
Beau was in third grade at Williams Elementary School when he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. His teacher at the time, Andrea Jenkins, helped the Lovells with the Diabetes Walk.
“I think it’s awesome how our community comes together. I’ve not seen anything like it,” said Jenkins.
Lovell said this year’s walk was very organized and she credits the Baileys and Winkles for laying a “great, solid foundation.”
She added, “I’m super thankful for their work. The community just knows what it is. They’ve built a great team that works every year and it all falls in place on walk day.”
Some of the team have agreed to stay on and Lovell said she has talked to others about joining the team to help every year.
Her son, Beau, especially enjoyed the walk and Lovell said her intent is to involve him more each year as he gets older.
Brett Winkle said the past 10 years have flown by and he is excited that “fresh eyes and fresh minds” will take on the walk.
“There couldn’t have been a better family to take this over,” said Brett Winkle, noting the Lovell’s children are still in school in Farmington and will have a connection to the school in promoting the walk each year.
It’s a little bittersweet letting go of the walk, Winkle said.
“It’s like letting go of one of your children but they have so many connections in the community. I think this community sees the importance of what this means to them and Beau’s family and friends,” he said, adding, “This will be good for the walk and we’ll always be a part of it.”