SudburyROCKS!!! celebrates 10 years, 500K in donations
About 2,000 people will take to the streets for the 10th annual SudburyROCKS!!! running race this weekend.
Over the past decade the event, which includes everything from a one kilometre fun run to a marathon, has raised about $500,000 for diabetes prevention and research.
Some of that money goes to the national association to support research, said Chris Montgomery, the mission funding coordinator in Northeast Ontario for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
"Obviously the main end goal is a cure because diabetes is one of the biggest diseases around that doesn't have a cure, it is just manageable," he said.
A portion of the money raised through SudburyROCKS!!! also stays in northern Ontario and funds prevention programs, Montgomery said, adding the concept of the race itself works towards the goal of reducing risk factors for people.
"You could say 'yes, this is about raising money towards a cure for diabetes,' but at the same time it's about creating healthy lifestyle."
One in four people in Canada are affected by diabetes, and rates are higher than that average in northern Ontario, Montgomery said.
Living with Type 1 diabetes
For Line Ferris of Sudbury, running the race each year since it started 10 years ago has helped to maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage her diabetes.
Ferris was diagnosed 32 years ago at the age of 12.
Ferris has benefited from some improvements in treatment over the years — including an insulin pump that replaces daily injections.
She said she is not sure if there will be a cure for diabetes in her lifetime, but she is pleased by the awareness the race has brought to the disease.
"I am hopeful that for the future generation that will be something that we might see to fruition," she said.
Care and treatment
There has been more of a focus on helping people to manage diabetes in recent years.
The hospital in Sudbury has a longstanding education program, but a few years ago the Complex Centre for Diabetes Care was created, said Teresa Taillefer, Coordinator of the Diabetes Care Service at Health Sciences North.
It helps about 600 people living with the complications of the disease — which can be severe and include amputations.
"We've had comments from patients from the point of 'you saved my life' to 'thank God you kept my toes on my body," Taillefer said.
There will be some lane closures in Sudbury for SudburyROCKS!!! on Sunday, mostly affecting the downtown core and Notre Dame Avenue.