It might have taken the Mets 50 years for a no-hitter, but the people of Howard Beach worked and walked to strike out Juvenile Diabetes this past weekend.
Hundreds gathered to raise money and awareness and show support for those with Juvenile Diabetes at the Fourth Annual South Queens Juvenile Diabetes Walk-A-Thon to Cure Diabetes, held Saturday, June 2. The event raised about $75,000 to go toward research, and the day sought to make strides toward finding a cure.
Joseph Mure, one of the Walk’s organizers, said the masses of attendees were “all here to support one thing: to help find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. We want to find a way to find a cure as quickly as possible for these children.”
The 5k walk started at the Ave Maria Catholic Academy, went through Old Howard Beach and around New Howard Beach, before returning to Ave Maria’s parking lot. The walk was organized and sponsored by International Society of Saints Cosma and Damiano, and featured appearances by Goumba Johnny of WKTU; Joe Causi of WCBS; State Senator Joseph Addabbo; Councilmember Eric Ulrich; and the Islanders Ice Girls.
Though there had been concerns about poor weather that morning, the sun came out just before the walk started. “I think based on what the weather forecast was we did very well,” said Joe De Candia, the walk’s organizer.
This was the first year Lisa Lampman of Ozone Park was taking part. She said several family members have diabetes and she wanted to do whatever it took to lend a hand. Aside from walking, Lapman said she had volunteered to serve food afterwards.
“I’d do anything I can to help cure the disease,” she said.
In the last four years, the walk has raised about $400,000 to go directly toward research for JDRF. “Four hundred thousand dollars in four years, we’re pretty impressed with those numbers for a one-day event in a small community,” De Candia said.
