They are $70,000 closer to a cure.
On Saturday, May 18, the Fifth Annual South Queens Juvenile Diabetes Walk-A-Thon to Cure Diabetes, organized by the International Society of Saints Cosma and Damiano, raised $70,000. All of the funds will go directly to juvenile diabetes research.
The Howard Beach Kiwanis Club, one of many organizations involved, donated a $500 check to the cause.
The walk was emceed by KTU’s own Goumba Johnny. The kickoff featured fun and games for all ages at the Ave Maria Catholic Academy in Old Howard Beach.
“We’re going to walk for a cure for diabetes and it starts here,” the host said. “And we’re doing it every year until we find a cure.”
Walk organizer Joe De Candia said this year has been tough for everyone in the neighborhood because of Sandy, but the community still came out to give their support.
“Everybody knows the devastation this area has gone through in the last six months.” De Candia said.
“And it was a little tough for everybody to get through, but this is a worthwhile cause we all fight for.”
Co-organizer Joe Mure said the day was about the children who suffer daily from the disease, and promised those present a cure was on the way.
“I promise you,” he said. “We’re working, we’re taking a step closer to finding a cure and hopefully we’ll be there one day soon.”
Councilmember Eric Ulrich applauded the work of De Candia and Mure for organizing the walk and looked forward to the day juvenile diabetes is no longer a problem.
“But until that day comes we must do everything that we can,” he said. “We must walk, we must raise awareness and we must fund the necessary research to find a cure.”
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