Jordan’s life includes all the usual activities of an Aussie kid, footy, riding his bike, as well as playing double bass and piano. He and his family try hard not to let the disease affect him, and mum Karen says proudly that he just gets on with things.

But there’s no doubt life would be much better without type 1 diabetes. At age nine, Jordan is very driven to raise awareness and help raise funds.

Jordan’s team for the Walk to Cure Diabetes, the J Walkers, are on track to top their state’s fundraising leaderboard, with funds being raised at community movie nights, by selling space on sponsored Walk t-shirts, as well as other activities.

Jordan says “I want them to try to find a cure – quickly – not just for me but for everyone. Especially the little kids who have to inject every day. Little kids don’t understand why they have to have injections, it’s not nice and it does hurt.”

Help support Jordan’s team the J Walkers – or any other Walker from around Australia – at www.jdrf.org.au/walk

JDRF needs your help to reach our target of $2 million for type 1 diabetes research.

What you can do next:

1) Update your personal fundraising page with a photo of you at the Walk to Cure Diabetes

2) Reach out to ask for support from your friends and family through email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or MySpace, letting them know that you completed the Walk to Cure Diabetes

3) Send a media release to your local paper, to help your local community understand that a cure for type 1 diabetes is important.

Media release for an adult with type 1 diabetes

Media release for a family with a child that has type 1 diabetes

If you need any help with the above, feel free to call JDRF on 1300 363 126.

Kids, mums, dads, workmates, friends, neighbours and grandparents joined together at the Walk to Cure Diabetes to celebrate research progress in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Geraldton, Albany, the Gold Coast, Bundaberg, Townsville, the Sunshine Coast, Banrock Station, and Mount Gambier.

Together these dedicated people are on track to raise $2 million for type 1 diabetes research.

Topping the fundraising board is 9 year old Billie Angelone, whose team Billie’s Brigade expects to raise $30,000 this year. This will take the Angelone family from Victoria over $60,000 in Walk to Cure Diabetes fundraising since their team was formed three years ago.

Billie once famously made a birthday wish to be turned into a fairy so that she could cure type 1 diabetes. It’s not clear what role fairies are currently playing in diabetes science, but there is no doubt that Billie’s efforts and those of her family and friends are providing critical support for Australian researchers.

Billie’s mother Nicky explained why she feels it is important to support the Walk to Cure Diabetes.

“It is my favourite event because it’s about joining with everyone in Australia who shares our hope for a cure for type 1 diabetes. It’s pretty special.”

“A cure would mean everything to us. A life free of midnight hospital trips, my son freed from the cloud of his genetic inheritance, an end to inflicting pain on my child to keep her alive – that would be heaven.”

What does the Walk to Cure Diabetes mean to you?

Comment on this article to share your views on one of Australia’s largest and longest running charity events.

The Walk to Cure Diabetes is a special event that takes place in October at around 20 locations across Australia. The goal is to raise $2 million for medical research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, a devastating lifelong disease that affects over 122,300 Australians.

Kids, mums, dads, workmates, friends, neighbours and grandparents will take a rare opportunity to share their stories of hope and moments of triumph over type 1 diabetes. It’s your day.

Six compelling reasons to join the Walk to Cure Diabetes:

1. Walk to Cure Diabetes and go in the draw to win a flat screen television. Every registered participant who raises over $50 before 5pm Thursday 14 October, will go into the running to win an LG 94cm LCD TV valued at $1599*. There are five TVs on offer, one in NSW/ACT, SA, QLD, WA and VIC/TAS. The winner will be announced on the day at the Walk to Cure Diabetes.
2. Walk to Cure Diabetes in your hometown. The Walk to Cure Diabetes takes place at nearly 20 locations across Australia, so there’s bound to be one near you.
3. Walk to Cure Diabetes after work. This year there are two evening events, the Walk to Cure Diabetes Twilight. You can join the Walk to Cure Diabetes in Sydney or Melbourne at picturesque waterside city locations.
4. Fundraising is easy. The Walk to Cure Diabetes website allows you to easily set up your own personalized fundraising page, to send to your friends and family. They can donate to your Walk to Cure Diabetes securely via credit card. Fundraising resources like emails and media releases help you spread the message far and wide.
5. Make new friends. The Walk to Cure Diabetes brings together people who understand what life with type 1 diabetes is really like. Everyone is there for the same reason, so families affected by type 1 diabetes can expect a warm welcome.
6. Help find a cure. The Walk to Cure Diabetes is a chance to come together to celebrate research progress and pay tribute to those scientists who take us closer every year to a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Sign up here to be part of a critical investment in Australian research.

Click here to see the terms and conditions of the Walk to Cure Diabetes TV Promotion

In 2009 the Walk to Cure Diabetes is a celebration of hope and progress towards a cure for type 1 diabetes. This year, two of the participants from Melbourne – a healthy little girl and a middle aged woman battling health challenges – highlight the progress that has been made in diabetes management over the last few decades.

Billie is 8 years old and her family is one of the top fundraisers for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. She is on an insulin pump, which is proven to reduce the risk of diabetes complications. Despite the daily pain and burden of managing type 1 diabetes, her health prospects are improving all the time thanks to new knowledge of the disease and its complications.

Billie Angelone

Billie’s health is excellent but her mum Nicky is very aware of the implications of diabetes management. Nicky says that trying to get Billie’s blood sugar in the healthy range is like walking on a tightrope. “It’s a huge responsibility because it can affect her future health.”

Karen was 8 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and is now in her early 40s. She lost a brother and several childhood friends to complications of type 1 diabetes. What’s more, she recently suffered a major heart attack, brought on by the stresses on her body.

Karen Irwin

Karen said, “I have a burning passion to help raise awareness of the disease and everything that goes along with it.”

Karen and Billie together joined the Melbourne Walk to Cure Diabetes in October. They reflect two of the many different faces of the type 1 diabetes community, but are joined together by shared hope for a cure.

The Walk to Cure Diabetes held every year by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and is now one of Australia’s largest and longest running charity fundraisers.

Gathering at more than 20 different locations around Australia, walkers are on track to raise over $2 million for critical medical research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson said he thrilled to see so many supporters stepping out to support JDRF’s mission to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and type 1 diabetes complications.

“The Walk to Cure Diabetes is an important source of fundraising for research but that’s not all, it is also about joining with all Australians who share the hope for a cure for type 1 diabetes.”

“The funds raised by the Walk to Cure Diabetes will deliver essential support for Australian research into type 1 diabetes, because we need to find that cure fast. The situation is urgent as Australia has one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world.”

“JDRF supports more than 60 research projects in this country, which represents over 200 researchers. There are more therapies in human clinical trials now than ever before, it is an exciting time.”

Typically striking young people, type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that destroys the ability to produce insulin, which is vital for life. An autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors – but not junk food or obesity.

Walk to Cure Diabetes – Capital Cities – Sunday 18 October 2009

SYDNEY: Parramatta Park

SYDNEY CBD: Mrs Macquarie’s Chair

MELBOURNE: Albert Park Lake

CANBERRA: Rond Terraces, Parkes

BRISBANE: Victoria Park, Herston

ADELAIDE: Wigley Reserve, Glenelg

PERTH: Burswood Park

Regional Walks took place around Australia in October – see www.jdrf.org.au/walk for a full list.

You can still support the Walk to Cure Diabetes – donate online until 6 November 2009 at www.jdrf.org.au/walk or on 1300 363 126.