THE FLATS — Inspired by three Yellow Jacket student-athletes living with diabetes, on Saturday, October 15, the Georgia Tech Athletic Association will participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk at Centennial Olympic Park. The walk is designed to help bring awareness of the disease and raise money to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
In support of their fellow student-athletes with diabetes and to further research on the disease, Tech student-athletes formed a Georgia Tech athletics team to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D). JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.
“The student-athletes and alumni of Georgia Tech all share a special bond from competing and representing our Institution,” noted Julian Darden, the track & field SAAB representative who founded the team. “Standing next to our fellow student-athletes fighting diabetes and fighting for a cure with JDRF holds a special meaning to us. We are excited to take part in the walk in a couple of weeks and hope our fans will join us.”
On Oct. 15, JDRF One Walk will host a three-mile walk through downtown Atlanta beginning at Centennial Olympic Park. Check-in time begins at 8 a.m. with the 5k starting at 9:30 a.m.
“I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was seven years old and had to grow up fast,” said Ashley Askin, a junior outside hitter on the Georgia Tech volleyball team. “Juvenile diabetes is not something you can choose to take care of one day and not another, it is a daily fight and you have to be disciplined, persistent, and mentally strong to have a chance at winning the battle each day.
“Participating in this event for me is about raising awareness and showing the little boy or girl growing up with this disease that they are not in it alone, I was once in their shoes too,” Askin stated. “I want to be someone they can look up to and see that you can have diabetes and still be successful in sports, academics, arts, life — anything you want to! Diabetes will make the journey tough, but it does not make the destination possible.”
Football’s Matthew Jordan and diving’s Omar Eteiba are the other two Yellow Jackets fighting diabetes.
Fans can support Tech by joining the walk or donating to the fund to raise awareness. To help Tech reach its fundraising goal, you can donate here.
