News Article

A Gonzaga University team is being formed for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes on Saturday morning, Sept. 27 at Riverfront Park. Gonzaga’s team is headed by Sara Melendy, assistant professor of accounting.

In the 2007 Walk to Cure Diabetes, Gonzaga earned “top school” honors by raising the most funds of all schools that participated in the walk. Team members and supporters hope for a repeat at this year’s Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Any Gonzaga faculty, staff, students, alumni or friends who would like to join Melendy (or support the team) may sign up for the event at the following Web site.  Anyone wishing to join the team on the day of the race should register on the same Web site (it’s free), wear Gonzaga clothing and meet at the northwest corner of Howard and Mallon in front of the Spokane Arena sign at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 27. Bring a camera and take some pictures of the group so they can be used for publicity and for the JDRF’s video of the Walk.

Melendy also invites people to join her walk team “virtually” by entering the information at the Web site and then doing your own 3-mile walk at home.
This annual event raises funds to further scientific research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Each year, more than 30,000 new cases of Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, are diagnosed in the United States alone. Juvenile Diabetes is often diagnosed during childhood, but lasts a lifetime with the constant risk of deadly complications. The Walk to Cure Diabetes is an effort to help find a cure for the more than 3 million people who suffer from Type 1 diabetes in the United States.

For questions about the 2008 Walk to Cure Diabetes or about the Gonzaga University team contact Sara Melendy at (509) 313-7031 or via e-mail.