Walk to Cure Diabetes

Opening ceremony

As an intern for JDRF, this past Sunday was the 22^nd annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. I am proud to say it was a successful event. The walk is the most successful fundraiser for the JDRF NYC chapter.  Last year it raised 3.3 million and we hope the walk surpasses last year’s amount. Donations still come in a week or two after the walk has taken place. Therefore, it will be a few weeks before we have a final total.

Starting the walk

I want to explain how Battery Park was set up and the activities that were going on that day, so here goes…

There was a main registration area as well as team table areas. If you were part of team, company, school you had your own designated area to hand in donations, sign up if you hadn’t already and gather before the walk began. It was great seeing mothers, fathers, children, aunts, uncles and dogs coming together and showing their support. There were so many colorful creative team t-shifts. I was happy to hear that JDRF was having a t-shirt contest and they were going to announce the winners during the opening ceremony. I thought this was very creative, fun and a showcase of pride for the family teams.

There was a big stage where a DJ was playing music as everyone started showing up.  The opening ceremony happened on stage where they announced the walk details and introduced the C.E.O. and the Executive Director of the chapter who gave brief overviews of the mission and personalized the mission by adding a story of their own and how they are connected to type 1 diabetes.

JDRF was not alone at Battery Park, there were thirteen different vendors which each had a stand of their own. To name a few there was the Kids Corner, Diabetes Educations, New York Life was signing children up for the child ID program and Greater NY dietetic Association.  One of my favorites was an organization called Lilly Diabetes where they care for pediatric patients. Recently they parented up with Disney to create a children’s storybook about diabetes.  I thought this was creative and helps children understand a complicated disease.

My task throughout the day was to oversee and help set up the two VIP tents, McCann Worldgroup and Bloomingdale's, they were the top two fundraising companies. Both VIP tents were set up with tables, chairs, food, beverages, snacks and coffee. MccCann Worldgroup’s area was for approximately 150 people and Bloomingdale's area for roughly 200 people.  The 2011 Walk to Cure Diabetes was a millstone for Bloomingdales. Bloomingdales joins an elite group of only a few companies to have raised a significant amount, over $5 million in support of JDRF since 2003! This was an enormous accomplishment and of course a big reason why they had a VIP tent!