Drew's Crew. The Huver Family has done a stellar job over the past few years raising money to cure diabetes. Last year, Drew's Crew, lead by 11 year old Drew Huver who has been living with diabetes for 6 years, raised over $20,000!!! Even though they only had eight walkers, mainly from their immediate family, they packed a winning punch! The team attributes their success to letters written by Drew to family and friends explaining the "nightmare" of living with diabetes. In the letter he asked for their support to help find a cure through donations. This year Drew is hoping to get his school involved. He is planning to write a letter to students, asking them to join him in walking to cure diabetes. Way to go Drew's Crew!!

Christopher & Melia Cousins for a Cure The Carlin and Haynes Families have found a recipe for success. They have been participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes ever since Christopher was diagnosed with Type 1 at age three, over ten years ago. Last year, they teamed up with ChristopherÕs eight year old cousin Melia who was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In 2005, Cousins for a Cure had 23 walkers and raised $17,674!!!The family has used the letter writing campaign for 10 years now, and has raised around $80,000 and counting!

Five and a half years ago the Lozano family was crushed by the unexpected news that their daughter Gabriela had type 1 diabetes. It was a shock to the family, their friends, and of course Gabriela herself, but the Lozano family made a swift decision that they would not let GabiÕs diagnosis ruin life as they knew it. For three years now the Lozanos have stepped up at the Walk to Cure Diabetes and fought hard for a cure, and they have not done it alone. Each year the Lozanos recruit their close family and friends to help them raise money for a cure, and not surprisingly, each year they gather more walkers and raise more money. Last year alone Lozano Family & Friends Walking for Gabriela was a team of 20 walkers who together raised $2,466. This year their team already has 29 walkers and their goal is set at $2,000; we have no doubt that they will meet this goal...and then some! Perhaps the most important aspect of the LozanoÕs fundraising efforts is their letter writing campaign. They are a great example for new families because they use a three point formula that really gets their message across...help us find a cure! Gabriela writes a personal letter, telling about herself and her diabetes management, Gloria and Manuel (GabiÕs parents) explain the importance of the Walk and JDRF as a whole, and this year they have also included a small paragraph on GabiÕs pump to make sure that their family and friends are informed on all aspects of her diabetes. To add a personal touch and really send the message home, the Lozanos make sure to include some pictures of Gabi and her Walk teams from past years. Way to go Lozano family, we can't wait to see you rise to the top at this years walk!

For five years Aaron Kovsky has been living with type 1 diabetes, and every day he's fighting for a cure. Aaron is now twelve years old, and more active than ever. It would be easy for someone of Aaron's age to get frustrated and give up on a "normal" life, but Aaron refuses to let that happen. He doesn't let his peers and instructors treat him differently because of his disease, and he has a confidence that anyone can admire. Aaron takes his diabetes in stride, one day at a time, confident that a cure is within reach. AaronÕs walk team this year decided to spice it up! With help from his father, Steve, Aaron set-up a personal website www.aaronsteam.com and video to share his experience of having diabetes, as well as his involvement in the Walk. On Aaron's website he encourages others to join the Walk to Cure Diabetes by adding a link to the JDRF web page, as well as Aaron's own fundraising page. The video called "The Murry Movie" tells the story about Aaron's dog, Murry, and how he became "The Diabetes Dachshund". The Kovsky Family is also inviting other dog owners to bring their pooches and come out to the walk and show their support. So far they have gotten responses already from the San Diego Dachshund club, and a group of Rhodesian Ridgeback owners, and are going out in the community on the weekends to put up flyers and brochures at pet-related businesses (vet's offices, dog groomers, etc.) in our community. All are welcome to participate in a special "Canines For A Cure" contingent of AaronÕs Team. Contact the Kovsky family if interested and look for our four-legged friends on Walk Day! DonÕt forget to bring those doggie bags!

Meet Devyn Barrett and his Delegates! Devyn is five years old and was diagnosed at 2 1/2. Devyn and his family are new to San Diego and recently moved here from San Antonio, TX. The Barretts were involved in the San Antonio JDRF Chapter and participated in the Walk there, where they raised $1,000! It was quite an impressive feat as it was only Devyn's parents raising money at that time. With Devyn being so small at the time and the family having a newborn, the Barretts used a wagon to pull the children. This worked out so great that they are doing it again this year. Devyn started kindergarten this year and the Principal allowed Devyn's mom, Misty, to send copies of the family walk letter to EVERY student-that's 577 copies that went out! The family has already received interest and donations based on those letters. In addition to the school letters, they also sent out letters to family, friends, doctors, etc. The Barrett's community is having its annual garage sale at the end of September and they plan to set up a booth for donations for the team. A friend has volunteered to have a bake sale for Devyn and ask for portions of profits at the garage sale to go to "Devyn's Delegates". The Barretts are very excited about the Walk this year, because they know how close we are to a cure. Their team goal this year is $1,200-slightly more than last year but very feasible! They named their team "Devyn's Delegates" last year and have kept the same name this year because they feel they truly are his "delegates". Delegates for Devyn and delegates for diabetes research!

The DeSchyver Family is new to JDRF this year and they are walking in honor of their three year old son, Kyle. Kyle was diagnosed just after turning two and, as coincidence would have it, the exact same day his sister was born! All four family members spent a few days in the hospital but in different towers. The family was living in Florida at the time and the day Kyle was discharged from the hospital the family received the call for a job transfer to bring the family back to California. They moved across the country with a newborn and a new diagnosis. The family now lives up north on the Central Coast but Laurie, Kyle's mom, grew up in San Diego so they decided to be affiliated with the JDRF San Diego chapter in order to get family and friends involved. October 15th will be their debut at the JDRF Walk - and we are excited to have them! Laurie mentions that she did not know what kind of support to expect when they started. Before they sent out their family letters they hoped to raise $2,000, but with matching gifts, anonymous donations, and exhilarating support from family and friends they have raised their goal to $10,000! Less than a month away they are half-way there! Another huge contributor to their growing success was being adopted by Bernardo School kindergarteners. Every kindergartener is striving to raise $25 in support of Kyle's Crusaders. Mrs. Borecky, the leading teacher, is hoping to put Kyle's Crusaders over the $10,000 mark! Laurie plans on sending thank you notes with a photo and update to everyone who donated and even those who didn't, in hopes that they will donate next year. Kyle has also asked all of his buddies from his playground group to donate $3 (since he's three years old) and many of his friends broke open their piggy banks to do so. The family has tried to keep everything age appropriate, so Kyle tells his buddies that he is going to give the money to the scientists so they can learn more about diabetes so he can stay healthy. Kyle now performs all his checks on his own and is getting really good at reading off the numbers! Welcome, Kyle's Crusaders!

Meet Rachel Eby, a carefree, fun-loving second grader who likes ballet and just learned to ride her bike. Rachel was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes in January of 2006. This is the first year Rachel and her family are participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes and they are doing a tremendous job! Rachel's parents, Tara and Dave, sent out a very touching letter to friends explaining the devastating affect diabetes has had on their family. In the letter they also mentioned that Rachel's birthday was coming up and she would love to get cards with donations inside.

The birthday fundraiser was a huge success! On September 14th, for Rachel's 7th birthday, she received a mailbox full of birthday cards and almost $600 worth of donations for her walk team Rachel's Angels! The family had a pool party at the community clubhouse and taped up all the cards next to their walk goal thermometer. The team goal is $5,000 and they have raised almost $4,000 so far! Great Job!

The family also taped paper sneakers to their front window so neighbors can see their team progress and if they haven't donated maybe they'll want a sneaker too!

For the Rachel's Angels team t-shirts they are placing a picture of Rachel from her birthday party on the front and little angels wings on the back of the t-shirts. Cute idea! The have also approached local businesses asking to sponsor Rachel's Angels and in return their logo would be put on the team shirt.

Thank you, Eby Family and Rachel's Angels for your dedication to finding a cure! See your wings on Walk day!

There are days you'll always remember - like the birth of a child or September 11. For us it will always be January 13, 2006. This is the day, Danielle Cooley-Graham, a very healthy and active teenager, met her angel, Kelli Flodman-Brander. Danielle, aka Dani, was diagnosed with diabetes. She had no family history, lots of symptoms (in hindsight), but no illness. Kelli, also a diabetic and sophomore at Academy of Our Lady of Peace, was diagnosed a year to the day of Danielle. We have been fortunate since January to find many new friends and support through JDRF. It has been the wonderful teen meetings, to the delivery of Rufus by Katrina Donnell (also a longtime friend from the past), to the Gala and the Walk Kick-Offs. We know that we are not alone and we also know that a cure is in sight, so we must educate the public and ask for their help in finding the cure. The wonderful strength of our daughter and so many others is why we walk. This being our first walk we hope to raise $10,000, and so far have 15 friends and family members walking with us. As a real estate investment group, Cooley-Graham Inc, believes in giving back to the community. We are a full service real estate company - from loans to finding the perfect dream home. We pledge that for every referral we receive through JDRF we will give back 10% of our earned commissions. We look forward to seeing and meeting you on October 15th. Thanks JDRF for all your support and hard work.