Charity Walk Makes Strides

ANNUAL JDRF EVENT EXCEEDS $310,453 GOAL

By Debbie Miller

Posted: November 15, 2009 at 7:20 a.m.

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ROGERS — Corporate and business leaders, youngsters and volunteers gathered Tuesday to celebrate some local steps toward finding a cure for diabetes.

The Northwest Arkansas branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation celebrated the conclusion of a successful fundraising walk during an awards reception at Embassy Suites. The annual walk in Northwest Arkansas generates money that’s applied toward research about type 1 - or juvenile - diabetes.

Jennifer Irwin, who emceed the event, announced that the 2009 walk raised more than $313,000. That sum exceeded the goal of $310,453, and the figure doesn’t include money dedicated to the nonprofit agency’s national sneaker sales, Irwin noted.

“You really kicked it up a notch,” she said, “and the ninth Walk to Cure Diabetes was a huge success.”

Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club were premier partners, and The Dannon Company returned as presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year.

Numerous family and corporate teams were recognized.

Deb Eucalano, special events manager for the Northwest Arkansas Branch of JDRF, presented a gift to America’s Car Mart CEO Hank Henderson, the 2009 walk corporate chairman. He brought in four new walk sponsors and gothis entire staff involved, Irwin noted.

Henderson asked his daughter, Hailey, who has type 1 diabetes, to join him at the front of the room.

“My motivation is real simple,” he told the audience in discussing his involvement in JDRF.

He said during the weekend, Hailey had mentioned a visit to a new doctor and a message the physician had shared. Henderson said the words had to do with how old she might be when a cure is found for type 1 diabetes. Henderson noted how important it is to have hope and faith that a cure will be found.

Among the activities lauded were the varied ways businesses and companies chose to raise money. Tyson Foods employees raised more than $16,000 for the third consecutive year through jeans days, silent auctions, a truckload sale and a new event called Bikes, Tunes and BBQ. More than 30 employees rode their bikes to work that day, Irwin noted, adding that the company plans to make it an annual event.

Representatives from family teams reaching sapphire level fundraisingwere recognized. Teams bring in $10,000 to $24,999 in a single walk season to receive the Sapphire Circle of Excellence Pin. Those honored included Kyle Daniel from Kyle’s Crew Team, Derek Winkle and Oakley Bailey from Oakley’s Incredible Hometown Teamand Katelyn Dowse, who participated for the first year.

Katelyn is the granddaughter of Carl Collier, who will serve as the 2010 walk corporate chairman. Collier told the audience that Henderson had left big shoes to fill in leading the corporate eff ort.

Entertainment, Pages 15 on 11/15/2009

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