Massachusetts General Hospital

On an October morning, 300 people took a two-mile walk through the venerable oak trees of Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet, Ill. Afterwards, they enjoyed music, snacks, a raffle and face painting. The outing raised $20,000 for the research of Denise L. Faustman, MD, PhD, whose Immunobiology Laboratory at Mass General is working to reverse Type 1 diabetes.

“When I read of Dr. Faustman’s clinical trial regenerating insulin-producing cells, I thought, ‘Here we go,’” says Kelly Nykaza, whose daughter Leah, age seven, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes three years ago. “We want to support someone who’ll make this disease go away—even if takes 20 years. Dr. Faustman’s work gives us hope.”

“I hope I don’t have to inject myself for the rest of my life. Maybe when I’m older, they’ll invent something that doesn’t hurt as much. Maybe I won’t have diabetes forever if there’s a cure.” - Leah Nykaza, age seven         Get started!

Kelly organized the walk with other mothers of children who have Type 1 diabetes. “Local businesses donated raffle items and covered our costs, so all our proceeds went to Dr. Faustman.”

Inclusive and family-friendly by design, the event took just a few hours and walkers simply donated whatever they could. Out-of-town “virtual walkers” sent contributions and posted their photos on the event’s Facebook page. The elementary school principal gave a kick-off speech and along the footpath, signs informed walkers of Type 1 diabetes.

Kelly and her friends want to make the walk an annual event. “So do our kids. We had a great time. This disease can make a child feel alone. Knowing so many support us makes us feel anything is possible.”