(Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
If you drove or walked by Wascana Lake Sunday afternoon, you may have noticed a very large group of people walking the park sporting team colours.
It was sunny, breezy weather for the 26th edition of the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Regina.
Over a couple hundred people were at the HMCS Queen Building off of Broad Street today to participate in the annual event. Whether it was tying up their sneakers and walking or helping out as a volunteer, this year’s event in Regina proved to be yet another success.
Before participants went off on their journey, a few notable people took the stage to deliver speeches to the eager crowd. Some of those speakers were Regina-Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Gene Makowsky, and former Humboldt Broncos forward Kaleb Dahlgren.
Kaleb Dahlgren was invited to be a part of the 2019 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Regina. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
Kaleb is the Juvenile Diabetes Ambassador for the walk this year. The type 1 diabetic took to the stage to share his story with diabetes.
“It was an awesome day to come out here and see such a great turnout. All the support they give to their family and friends is remarkable,” said Dahlgren. “To be a part of this is so special for myself.”
A program Dahlgren came up with to help support youth with diabetes is called Dahlgren’s Diabeauties. It’s a project he created a couple years ago when he was still playing with the Broncos that helps give back to children.
Things like Dahlgren’s Diabeauties and being a Juvenile Diabetes Ambassador for young diabetics is how Kaleb said he tries to reach out to and serve as a role model to the younger generation.
“I just hope they took away [from my speech] that they can still pursue their dreams and passions while having a disease,” he said. “There’s a lot of challenges, but you can find positivity with it. You have to live with what you got and live life to the fullest.”
JDRF has set a fundraising goal of $5 million dollars for 2019. It is expected that more than 35,000 Canadians in 70 cities will take part in this year’s event.