Lending helping feet

Bryce Alderton

Robert Foss just wants to be able to eat Snickers candy bars again and

not feel guilty.

So on Sunday, Foss joined an estimated 4,000 walkers at UC Irvine to

walk in the ninth annual “Walk to Cure Diabetes” in hopes of finding a

cure for a disease that afflicts 16 million Americans. A simultaneous

walk also took place at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton.

The 44-year-old Woodland Hills resident drove to Irvine Sunday to

support finding a cure. Joining him were his mother and father, Orlene

and Pete Foss of Newport Beach, who have been on the foundation’s walk

committee for four years.

“My mom is so involved. She enjoys doing it so much,” Robert Foss

said, as he looked through his glasses at the walkers crossing the finish

line of the three-mile course. “It’s great to see people really involved

and see that there’s potential to find a cure. It’s so exciting.”

Foss was diagnosed six years ago with Type 1 Diabetes. With that type,

a person’s pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone necessary to

sustain a person’s blood sugar level at a normal level.

He has to give himself five injections of insulin per day, but the

shots don’t bother him; he’s learned to live with the disease.

“[Having diabetes] is kind of a game. You do what you can and hope you

win the game,” Foss said.

Foss admits he sometimes has trouble keeping his blood sugar level in

the proper range, and has learned to count the amount of carbohydrates he

ingests into his body.

“[Counting carbohydrates] is not easy to do,” Foss said. “I like to

cook my meals so I know what I’m putting in them. If I go to a

restaurant, I don’t always know what they’re putting into [the food].”

Sunday’s walk was Foss’s first in Irvine, but it won’t be the last, he

said.

Melisa Bozza walked on Sunday in memory of Lisa Dean, her 32-year-old

friend who died Aug. 2 after a 22-year bout with diabetes.

“She struggled with [diabetes], but she’s in a happier place now,”

Bozza said.

The turnout amazed Bozza.

“This is wonderful. It’s one of the best things I’ve been involved

with, and I will definitely do the next [walk] when it comes up,” Bozza

said.

Also making an appearance at the walk was Rep. Chris Cox (R-Newport

Beach), who elicited a loud cheer from the crowd when he said, “I know

that we will find a cure; that’s the purpose of today.”

Cox counted down to kick off the walk, as a sea of blue, green and red

shirts gathered at the starting line.

Sunday’s goal was to raise $850,000 from the two Orange County walks.

The money will be given for research to find a cure for diabetes.

The walks, sponsored by the Orange County Chapter of the Juvenile

Diabetes Research Foundation International, raised more than $70 million

nationally last year. About 85 cents of every dollar raised goes directly

to support diabetes research and education.

* Bryce Alderton is the news assistant. He may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at o7 bryce.alderton@latimes.comf7 .