Video: Walk For Diabetes Raises Awareness

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-According to the Center for Disease Control, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United states.

Raising awareness for the disease is important, that’s why the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi hosted its 12th annual Mississippi’s Walk for Diabetes.

In fact, Mississippi has the second highest adult diabetes rate in the nation.

That’s why more 300 participants flocked to the Columbus River Walk to help raise awareness about the disease

But for Some, this was more than just a walk.

“I was 10 years old when I was diagnosed with Type One diabetes, and I had to grow up really fast, but the lord really helped me through it and my parents did,” Rachel Burns said.

“Personally man, diabetes just runs rapid in the Henry family and mine, the Cunningham family. A lot of it has to do with heredity, but a lot of the time it’s just bad diet and lack of exercise,” Larry Cunningham said.
Diabetes is also a growing among children, and no one knows that better than Jeff Courtright,  who used this time to walk in honor of his son.
“When we come to these events we make it very clear, Aidan, this is for you, this is for other people who have diabetes, and other kids who have diabetes. There are other kids with diabetes and other families with it. You’re not the only one,” Dr. Jeffery Courtright said.
Courtright has a 4 year old son Aidan, who was diagnosed with the disease since he was 2.

Courtright says events like this are helpful because it shows Aidan, that he isn’t the alone.
“I walk for Aiden, but I walk for the other families as well who have families with kids who have diabetes or with adults with diabetes,” he said.

Doctors say there is no cure for the diabetes,  be managed through healthy eating and exercise.

Individuals who are living with the disease say they continue to stay strong, and they refuse to let this diabetes define who they are.

“I can still eat things that most people can eat, maybe not all the time, but yes, I still like to eat sweets, I can eat hamburgers, pizza, But I just have to make sure my blood sugar is ok, and that I have a control on it,” Burns said.
All money that was raised at the Walk will go towards programs and services of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi