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Home > Employment > Working at MITRE > Community Involvement > | ||||||||||||||||
| Walking for the Cure March 2004
Each year in Washington D.C., a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes takes place. Max Rosen found out about this event six years ago when his daughter Sydney, now 14, was diagnosed with Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes. During their first walk in 1997, Max, his wife, and Sydney noticed numerous family teams. They immediately decided to create their own "Team Sydney" and joined JDRF. At the kick-off luncheon the following year, Sydney was overjoyed to discover many children afflicted with diabetes just like her. She was also thrilled to meet Miss America, who was also diagnosed with juvenile diabetes as a youngster. The first Team Sydney had 15 walkers; after five years of participation, 50-65 walkers now join them, including Max's co-workers and support from Grevey's Resturant in Falls Church, Va. To date, Team Sydney has raised over $60,000 toward a cure. Sydney was proud to have the Washington Capitols mascot, Slapshot, join Team Sydney for the fourth straight year. Another surprise this year was receiving an invitation through the JDRF to attend a reception with President Bush at the White House Rose Garden, honoring the New Jersey Devils hockey team for winning the Stanley Cup. Juggling work, home life issues, and this effort has not been easy. Fortunately, Team Sydney has become self-supporting with a core group of people that get involved every year. Still, the biggest effort is the letter writing campaign to raise funds, which includes 100-200 letters. Two years ago Max and his wife served as the Family Team Chairs for the walk, beyond their usual responsibilities of recruiting and organizing walkers. The walk is made up of Corporate, Union, and Family Teams. Max feels positive about JDRF, as it's an organization that dedicates a majority of its proceeds to finding a cure. Besides the satisfaction of helping his daughter, he's also helping all children (and adults) with Type 1 Diabetes. These children must monitor their diet, take 4-5 blood tests and 3-4 insulin shots, every day of the week for the rest of their lives, until a cure is found. Max says, "There is no day off until there's a cure. Anything to help these kids find a cure brings a lot of satisfaction besides being part of something good."
Page last updated: April 9, 2004 | Top of page |
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