Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GPS walks for diabetes research

The entire Gurdon Primary School student body, more than 300 children from Pre-K through the fourth grade, took to the high school track on Friday afternoon, March 4, to walk at least a lap for diabetes.

Hope McGalliard, school nurse, said this is Gurdon's First Annual Diabetes School Walk effort for the America Diabetes Association, which has an Arkansas branch.

Melody Myers, director of the Arkansas office of the American Diabetes Association, said close to 90 percent of the $4,009 raised by the children's efforts goes to research at the Diabetes Association.

The rest of the money goes back to the school through gift certificates from U.S. Games, which gives kids an incentive to participate and actively seek sponsors the next year. The children also get prizes.

Myers said, "It is a win-win situation. We are glad to see the kids get the prizes. This makes it possible for us to come and talk to them about diabetes, which effects 235,000 people in Arkansas alone.

"The national figure is 18.2 million," she said. "Gurdon is one of 25 Arkansas schools to sign up for the American Diabetes Association's School Walk for Diabetes this year. Most seem to like to walk in March."

The money that makes it to research is aimed at the curing and prevention of diabetes. The School Walk for Diabetes also teaches children about the disease of diabetes and the importance of healthy eating and regular physical exercise.

Myers noted the two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when the body destroys its own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is when the body is either not making enough insulin or can not use the insulin it does make. Eating healthy foods and regularly exercising can help prevent type 2 diabetes.

According to Nurse McGalliard, the school walk was in conjunction with a pep rally honoring fourth grade students for taking the Benchmark exam.

"I would like to give a lot of credit to our physical education teacher for helping to organize this walk," McGalliard said. "Mrs. Miller has a few t-shirts for top sellers. Other prizes include: water bottles, frisbees and Walkman radios.

"The class who raised the most money will get a pizza party, plus additional prizes will be given to participants who raised at least $25."