Rain can't stop diabetes walk

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - A little rain did not stop thousands from attending the 20th annual Walk to Cure Diabetes on Sunday at Martin's Fantasy Island

News 4 is a co-sponsor of the event and News 4's own Jacquie Walker helped kick off the walk.  You can see photos of the event on Jacquie's blog here .

"One of these days we are going to say we dont have to do this because we have a cure." said Walker.

"Having type one diabetes is a horrible disease, its just devestating to the families." said Karen Swierski, Executive Director of the WNY Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "This is the one day of the year where the kids get to be king or queen for the day. They see thousand out here supporting them. Its just great for them. It make them feel so good."

5,000 western New Yorkers have type-one diabetes and News 4 had the chance to speak with two young ladies about their day-to-day life with the disease.

"I have to test my blood sugar before I eat, give myself insulin, and I wear a pod and I have to change it every three days." said Emily Dickey who's had juvenile diabetes for four years.

MacKenzie Duffy has had juvenile diabetes for seven years.

"My friends when they go to lunch they go right to lunch," she said. "I have go to the nurse and take my sugar and then I go to lunch."

Emily's father, Edward Dickey says his daughter's diagnosis has changed the family's eating habits.

"Everything gets weighed and measured and counted." he said. "We try to keep everything normal in Emily's life but there is quite a challege to living day to day with diabetes."

The Duffy family has been working to raise money themselves and through the walk and other events MacKenzie has raised over $100,000 in just seven years toward the cause.

The walk raises over $800,000 a year.

For more information on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, you can visit JDRF.com .