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Will
Parker is like most eight year-olds. He loves to play in his cul-de-sac
with his friends or his Dad, and he loves just about any sport and has
dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. He also has an artistic
side and loves to draw cartoons. He loves to watch birds with him mom
and is a caring big brother to his sister, Anna.
But
Will is not like most eight year-olds. Will battles Type I Juvenile Diabetes,
and his daily routine must include consistent balance of diet, exercise
and insulin. He has a tremendously positive attitude and is a definitely
a fighter.
The
Walk for Will began four years ago as a way to join the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) Annual Walkathon. Each year, the Walk for
Will has gotten bigger with more and more support. To date, the JDRF has
provided more than $600 million to diabetes research worldwide. Type I
Juvenile Diabetes is a genetic disorder and is triggered by unknown causes,
and there currently is no cure, which means a lifelong battle.
Last
year, the 2003 Walk for Will included more than 25 soldiers from the Third
U.S. Army, who had heard about Will through his mother, Michelle Parker.
Lt. Col. Richard Koucheravy, commander of the Third Army Special Troops
Battalion said, "Michelle had mentioned how much Will wanted to fight
for his country, so we decided to conduct an honorary 'enlistment' for
him into the Army." The Army team will participate again this year.
This
year's Walk for Will will be held October 23 at the Concourse Office Park
in Dunwoody with a 9 a.m. check in and 10:30 a.m. start. The organizers
are hoping to have at least 250 people join the walk, and they are hoping
to
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