By Mikayla van Loon
Lilydale will host its first One Walk, a JDRF Australia fundraiser for type 1 diabetes, seeing people descend on the Lake on Sunday for the cause.
The nationally held fundraising event, which aims to raise $1.2 million to support type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and for the over 130,000 Australians living with the autoimmune condition, is coming to Lillydale Lake on 16 March.
It’s for people like Tex, who when he was 13-months-old two years ago, was diagnosed with T1D after a lengthy illness.
“Tex was incredibly unwell for days, we had taken him to the GP and a paediatrician three times, with no answers,” Tex’s mum Jayde Manning said.
“It was not until he was in Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) that our small local hospital thankfully noticed all of his symptoms and made the diagnosis. Tex’s diagnosis came as a very big shock as there was no previous family history.”
From there, Jayde and her family were left to navigate a diagnosis commonly compared to its counterpart, type 2 diabetes, but vastly different.
“Unfortunately there is not enough awareness of T1D. We want the community to know, T1D does not discriminate, it can come at any age and stage in one’s life, and unlike the more widely known Type 2 Diabetes, T1D cannot be managed through lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise,” she said.
“At this point in time there is no cure for T1D, only daily management through daily insulin injections or insulin delivered via an insulin pump.”
This is One Walk’s 31st year, having been started by a group of mums in Melbourne.
There are now more than 39 events planned around Australia throughout March, from city centres to regional hubs, encouraging community connection and conversation.
“Our community events are a great opportunity to bring those living with T1D and their families together, and provide an opportunity for connection by meeting others living with the same challenges daily,” Jayde said.
JDRF last year alone helped fund 55 research projects across Australia with $9.4 million raised.
“Type 1 diabetes doesn’t stop for anything or anyone, it is 24/7. JDRF Australia wants to change that,” National Manager Community Fundraising Tamara Aitchison said.
“We are committed to creating a world without this condition through funding the best and brightest researchers working to accelerate life changing breakthroughs to improve lives and ultimately cure T1D.
“One Walk has been helping make these breakthroughs possible for many years now, raising funds for the most promising research thanks only to the continued dedication of our amazing community.”
With eight people diagnosed every day, Jayde said it’s important to look out for the signs and symptoms of the four T’s: Tired, Thirst, Thinner and Toilet!
JDRF hopes to get to a point where T1D doesn’t exist and improve the outcome for people like Tex.
“Tex’s diagnosis was absolutely heartbreaking. While knowing we would never hold him back in life from chasing his every dream, the reality of the extra hurdles we would all be facing was a harsh reality,” Jayde said.
The Lilydale walk starts at 11.30am with an arrival of 10.30am, a sausage sizzle and other treats will also be available. To find out more, go to walk.jdrf.org.au/event/walk-lilydale-25/home
