Dear family and friends,

 I am running to Stop Diabetes!

Almost 26 million children and adults in the United States are living with type I or type II diabetes. One of them could be your friend or your loved one.  One of them is my 8 year old goddaughter Janess.

Last year Janess was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and since has been taking multiple injections a day to replace the insulin her pancreas no longer produces. Unlike other kids, she has to check her blood sugar 6 to 8 times a day and is frequeantly woken up one to two times a night to test her sugar level; everything she eats is measured and every carbohydrate counted. Every three days her insulin pump sets are changed with needles that are fully 2 inches long and her kit goes with her everywhere she goes....Life with Juvenile Diabetes requires planning out each move of every day to keep her levels from falling into extreme highs or lows. Achieving this isn't easy and she's too young to worry about all this stuff!

If current trends continue, one of every three children born this century will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death, it is the leading cause of kidney failure; and it leads to nervous system damage, dental disease and stroke. While we can cut the risk of developing diabetes with proper nutrition and regular exercise, there is no cure.

This is why I am running the 2012 ING New York City Marathon to raise funds to support the work of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).   As one of only 5 individuals chosen to represent the ADA New York chapter, my goal is to generate as many donations as possible to support new research and education.  Please join me in supporting the ADA in honor of Janess and the individuals in your life who may be living with the disease. 

You may make a donation by simply clicking on the "Support Erica" button on the top left side of this page.  Each dollar I raise will be used in the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by this disease. Please also share this link with anyone who would like to join us in fighting diabetes.

Thank you for supporting this cause that is so important to me!

 Erica Matloff