Event raises about $42,000 for efforts against the disease

By Jennifer Nitson
CORVALLIS Gazette-Times

The turnout for Saturday's Corvallis Walk for Diabetes was more than twice that of last year.

More than 370 mid-valley residents and 25 canine companions strolled along bike paths through Avery Park and downtown along the river in the late morning hours. The sky mercifully held back the imminent downpour and the sun peeked through the clouds. Some participants power-walked while others chatted and strolled leisurely. All were united by the opportunity to raise money for diabetes prevention, treatment and research.

The first Corvallis Walk for Diabetes was held last October. It raised $27,000 with about 200 walkers. This year's event raised $42,000, according to organizers.

Tony Pendleton, a banker at Wells Fargo in Corvallis, encouraged fellow employees and family members to join the Walk for Diabetes.

"I'm walking because my dad has diabetes and just basically to help support the cause," he said. "We try to get as many people out here as possible."

Five other Wells Fargo employees, including Pendleton's wife, Dannett, turned out Saturday for the walk.

Debra Radtke was the leader-by-default of the Michael Michael walking team. The other four members, her sons ages 12, 9, 6 and 4, forged ahead and trailed behind as Radtke explained the team's name.

"It's a little play on words," she said. "My youngest son, who's 4, couldn't say ‘Uncle Michael,' so he says ‘Michael Michael.'"

Radtke's team of exuberant walkers raised $330 for the American Diabetes Association through donations from family and friends. Team Michael Michael is inspired by Radtke's brother, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a young adult. Now in his 40s, Michael spends most of his time managing the effects of the disease, Radtke said. He is insulin-dependent and requires kidney dialysis treatment three times a week.

"Basically his whole life revolves around taking care of himself and just trying to beat this thing," Radtke said. "He's a miracle, Miracle Mike."

Ellen Altman was inspired to join the walk through her work with the InterCommunity Health Network, a managed care plan that administers the Oregon Health Plan in Linn and Benton counties.

As director of quality management, diabetes prevention and treatment are important issues for Altman.

"All the chronic diseases are issues we are always looking at," she said.

Altman and 30 other walkers formed the Ketone Kops team, which sold plush toys and raffled off a handmade porcelain doll to raise more than $1,000 for the cause.

Tynan Weed and Pachida Lo took part as members of Oregon State University's Student Health Services.

To raise money for the American Diabetes Association, Student Health Services recently held a bake sale. The group sold more than $200 worth of cookies and other baked goods using low-sugar recipes.

Weed said she does not know anyone with diabetes and that she joined the walk "for fun."

Lo, of Southeast Asian Hmong decent, said she knows "a lot of people that have type 2 diabetes" among other Hmong-Americans.

"I think they could prevent it, but I think the lifestyle that they lead contributes to it," Lo said.

Physical activity and sports are not encouraged in Hmong families, Lo said, and "we don't really keep track of sodium in our food, and sugars and fats and stuff."

Getting more exercise and making better food choices are recommended ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association Web site offers extensive information on diabetes risk assessment and prevention at www.diabetes.org.

The Corvallis Walk for Diabetes is part of a nationwide effort involving more than 100,000 walkers in 250 cities.

About 18.2 million Americans, including 156,000 Oregonians, have diabetes. More than 213,062 Americans die each year from the disease. To date, the American Diabetes Association has raised more than $300 million for diabetes research and education.