Why I Chose to Support the ADA

Diabetes comes in all shapes, forms, styles, and characters. As much as us type ones think it's us who is affected the most, type twos and others are just as greatly affected.
So when I first decided I wanted to participate in a diabetes walk, I looked in JDRF first. And when they didn't have any walks scheduled near me (the closest one is 3 hours away), I looked at the American Diabetes Association. And guess what? The closest one they had was about 3 hours away too! So what was I to do? A few years ago, my family and I did participate in a walk for the JDRF in Washington, DC. And don't get me wrong, it was great! But what about my community? What about the small town I live in, where diabetes advocacy barely exists? Well, let me tell you, that just wasn't cutting it for me anymore.
As I was sitting in my CDE's office the other day, I brought up how I had been thinking about organizing a diabetes walk in our community, I just didn't know how to go about it. I knew it would be a lot of work, that's why I was SO glad when she said that herself, and the people in her office has thrown around the idea also, but when it got to actually putting their plan into action, nobody had enough motivation. (Well, I do!) She also mentioned that the majority of her patients are type two, but they are seeing more and more type ones (like me).
So I have decided to organize a diabetes walk in this tiny small town of mine, and I have decided on going through the ADA instead of the JDRF.
Why? As my mom and I threw around some more ideas for the event, I realized that this is something I want to become a yearly thing. Even after (if) I move away to college. And now, after having support from my CDE and the wellness program at the local hospital, I believe that if I organize it this year, it WILL become a yearly thing. After thinking about it a lot, I want this walk to be and do SO MUCH MORE than just raise money; I want this walk to build connections and friendships, and to be about everyone who has diabetes, not just type ones. So I decided that having a walk through the JDRF would, while great, would limit the participation in the community.
For now, I'm still in the very early planning stages. The walk will most likely be sometime in September 2014.
I can't wait to see what this becomes. I'm dedicated to make a change in my community, now I just need the right people to support me.
I plan to keep blogging about the walk's progress here, so keep checking for more exciting news!