Last year, nineteen of your schools raised $40,000 for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research through our Kids Walk program in Georgia. You, along with your kids and school staff, teamed up to generate wacky and creative ideas to raise money. We saw schools as far south as Savannah issue fundraising challenges – school vs. school, class vs. class, and grade vs. grade.  We even saw a principal get a pie in the face and a teacher kiss a pig. But, we also saw hallways and lunchrooms lined with hundreds of Breakthrough T1D sneakers, each one representing at least $1 donated by aunts, grandfathers, and friends.

Perhaps the best thing about Kids Walk is the opportunity to educate more people about T1D. Chances are someone has asked your child “why do you have to prick your finger” or “what’s that thing on your arm” or “can I catch it from you.” If we can educate kids and adults in schools, then we can dispel myths about T1D, avoid confusion with type 2 diabetes, cultivate young advocates for research, and most importantly, prevent bullying.

We need parents like you to make Kids Walk happen in your schools. To find out how you can bring Kids Walk to your own school, please contact April Case at 770.395.5982 or acase@BreakthroughT1D.org.

Thanks to all of last year’s Kids Walk schools!

Bascomb Elementary School
Woodstock

Bryan County Elementary School
Savannah

Craig Elementary School
Lawrenceville

Crawford County Middle School
Roberta

Dacula Elementary School
Dacula

Glanton-Hindsman Elementary School
Villa Rica

J.H. House Elementary School
Conyers

Peachtree Corners Middle School
Atlanta

St. George’s Episcopal School
Milner

St. Peter the Apostle School
Savannah

Teasley Middle School
Canton

Union Grove Middle School
McDonough

Clay Elementary School
Mableton

Daves Creek Elementary School
Cumming

Dexter Elementary School
Fort Benning

Lambert High School
Suwanee