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America’s Walk for Diabetes set for Saturday

Melissa Stephens of Sharpsburg knows all too well the devastation diabetes can cause. As a pharmacist diabetes educator with Kroger Pharmacy in Peachtree City, Stephens works closely with patients to provide individualized diabetes education including meal planning and grocery store tours to help patients develop a healthy diabetes care plan.

In an effort to help find a cure for this silent killer, Stephens has accepted the role of Chairperson for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2004 America’s Walk for Diabetes. The Walk is set for Saturday, Sept. 25, at Shakerag Knoll Park, 191 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City.

America’s Walk for Diabetes is ADA’s signature special events fund-raising campaign. Participants register and recruit friends or co-workers to walk and raise money then celebrate their fund raising accomplishments the day of the event. Anyone interested in forming a walk team is asked to please call Lauren Owens at 1-888-DIABETES x 3087 or email at lowens@diabetes.org.

“Diabetes is challenging,” Stephens said. “It’s important we participate in this fundraising event so we can prevent more people from developing diabetes.”

Stephens is very involved in her community. She is a member of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church and has served on its Congregation Council and Preschool Board. She is also involved with the American Pharmacists’ Association, Georgia Pharmacy Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators, Alumni member of Kappa Epsilon, a pharmacy professional fraternity, and Chi Omega, a social fraternity.

More than 3,300 Fayette County residents have diabetes. The average annual cost for diabetes care is more than $13,000 a year, compared with only $2,500 for someone without diabetes, Stephens said, adding that every three minutes, someone dies from diabetes.

“That’s 20 people in 1 hour and 500 people in 24 hours,” she said. “These are some scary numbers.”

Dana Gantt, a diabetic who plans to walk in the Peachtree City Walk, said she realized on August 30, 1998 exactly what diabetes can do when she suddenly suffered her first heart attack from diabetes complications. She had her second heart attack seven months later.

“Most of my friends who have diabetes are now dead,” said Gantt, who uses a seeing-eye dog and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 2 in 1962. “I don’t wish this on anyone. This fundraiser is very important to our community.”

If you care about the issue of diabetes and want to find out how you can help, please call 1-888-DIABETES x 3083. The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.Ê The mission of the organization is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Registration for the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. with a light breakfast and the official ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Following the Walk, there will be a picnic lunch, fun and entertainment. Walkers will have the opportunity to visit the Health and Wellness Festival throughout registration and the Walk. For more information, call 1-888-DIABETES.