MORROW, OHIO - TIM ERTEL'S TURTLES DRIVEN TO WALK

MORROW, OHIO -  Little Miami Junior High School eighth-grader Tim Ertel is driven to walk. The 12-year-old is beginning his drive to raise money for the ADA Dayton area Americas Walk for Diabetes. He is co-captain of the walk team Ertel's Turtles and one of the 2006 youth ambassadors for the American Diabetes Association.

To reach his goal he is challenging 10 local businesses to sponsor $1,000 each, and 20 local businesses to sponsor $500 each. In return for their support, he will recognize these companies and individuals by listing all of them on his walk teams T-shirts.

The ADA walk in Dayton will be Oct. 7 at Delco Park in Kettering. This will be Tim's third year walking - and his third year living with Type 1 diabetes. To manage his diabetes he tests his blood sugar about 3,000 times per year and constantly wears an insulin pump.

"Everyone out there probably knows someone with diabetes, so why would you not want to help?" he said. He is making it his mission to kick diabetes so it cannot kick him. He also wants to increase public awareness of the dangers of this disease.

The money raised for the walk will help fund research, education and advocacy for those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Little Miami Junior High School has sponsored a school American Diabetes Association walk-a-thon for three years. Last spring, students raised nearly $7,275.

Tim is on the planning committee for the Dayton walk, so in addition to challenging local businesses to participate, he invites individuals to participate.

For more information or to participate in the walk, contact Jennifer Hemmer-Dunaway, Market Manager for the ADA, at (513) 759-9330 or 1 (888) 342-2383, Ext. 6667, or e-mail jhemmer@diabetes.org. For additional information on America's Walk for Diabetes, visit diabetes.org/walk.