Discovery School walks the walk in Type 1 diabetes awareness … – Richland Source

MANSFIELD -- Students at Discovery School are learning about Type 1 diabetes and the differences it has with Type 2.

Not only are the students talking the talk -- they are walking the walk. Discovery School's student body will hold a Kids Walk for Type 1 Diabetes March 29 at 11:40 a.m.

The event was sparked when student Jager Thornton, 4, was diagnosed with the disease.

Jarger's mother, Ashley Thornton said she wants to make sure people are aware of the differences between the two types, not "lumped together as one disease."

Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body no longer creates its own insulin. Insulin is a hormone necessary for blood cells to create energy from consumed sugar.

Type 2 diabetes, a much more commonly-known version of diabetes, occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"We've adjusted pretty well," Thornton said of her son's condition. "It's a lot of routine, finger pokes, loss of sleep. It was life altering. My son's life is now in the hands of his caretakers. If he get's too little insulin he could die."

Third grade teacher, Lindsay Wicker said allowing students to have an opportunity to take action is a emphasized mantra for students at Discovery School.

"I tell my students that all the time," Wicker said. "And when (Ashley) said she was wanting help raising awareness, I thought this would be a great opportunity to have my third-grade students to be able to take action for something important."

Wicker's students are reading facts about the disease during morning announcements, stuffed information about the disease into envelopes to spread to their peers and are helped organize the walk.

"It's a great opportunity to make a difference even though they are only in third grade," she said.

Discovery School has raised $500 for the JDRF, the leading global organization for Type 1 diabetes research, in the first week.

Students also were given three paper shoes to sell for any amount of money. The money will be donated to the JDRF Organization.

"It's impressive. They don't have to sell the shoes," Thornton said. "They have one more week (to raise money); they are on Spring Break right now."

Thornton said she is gratefulto Discovery School for its cooperation and willingness to teach students about the disease. She hopes the education will provide her son with the ability to fit in and feel like his classmates.

"One thing I want for Jager is more people to be aware of Type 1 of this disease," Thornton said. "I just wish people would learn there is more than (the Type 2 version), that it's not the same."

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Discovery School walks the walk in Type 1 diabetes awareness ... - Richland Source