Dwyer joins the diabetes fight

Doug Tabbert

Throughout the day Friday, about 600 Dwyer Middle School students

trekked around Lake Park to help the 17-million Americans who suffer

from diabetes.

Students had the opportunity to walk for the American Diabetes

Assn. during their gym class period on Friday. Students raised nearly

$7,000 for diabetes education and research.

“Its incredible, Dwyer is the top fund-raising school in Orange

County, if not the state,” said Angie Stock, a fund-raising manager

at the American Diabetes Assn.

The walking is meant to emphasize that exercise is invaluable in

preventing diabetes. Parent volunteers helped guide the short trek to

and around Lake Park and back.

“The drama queens started singing ‘we’re walking for diabetes’,”

said Estevan Lemus, a seventh-grader.

Estevan said the atmosphere, at least among third-period walkers,

was positive and fun.

“A lot of us felt like we were having an effect,” said Kristina

Santizo, another seventh-grader who walked during second period.

Students have had the disease on their mind for the past two

weeks. Colorful posters about diabetes line the large white halls of

Dywer, providing constant reminders. Facts were heard every morning

during school-wide announcements and lectures were given in science

class.

Type two diabetes, which accounts for 95% of the cases in the

U.S., is caused by a sedentary lifestyle and a diet high in fats. An

increasing number of children are being diagnosed with type two

diabetes each year. About 123,000 children in the U.S. suffer from

type two diabetes.

Diabetics have difficulty producing or using the hormone insulin,

which plays a key role in energizing the entire body.

By holding the walks at schools the American Diabetes Assn. hopes

to not only raise money, but also awareness that will inspire schools

to improve the food and drinks sold to students, said Sandra Mace, a

teacher at Dwyer.

According to the Journal of School Health, 49.9% of U.S. school

districts have contracts with companies to sell soft drinks.

Hardeep Dhillon, 11, has had type one, or juvenile onset diabetes

since he was 5. He tests his blood sugar four times a day and endures

two shoots a day. Hardeep says it’s crucial that he exercises daily,

but he can’t over do it.

“I feel like [my classmates] understand me a little better,” he

said.