South Florida Families Will Step Up For A Diabetes Cure At 8th Annual DRI Walk For Diabetes & Family Fun Day Presented By Walgreens

MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of families will join The DRI Walk for Diabetes & Family Fun Day Presented by Walgreens and the DRIHope4aCure 5K/10K Run & Kids' Fun Run on their way to better health and to support a cure for diabetes at Marlins Park Saturday, March 3, 2018. The 8^th annual event will once again benefit the Diabetes Research Institute's (DRI) work to cure diabetes, which affects millions of South Floridian adults and children.

Along with the walk and race, attendees will also get to enjoy free activities and live entertainment including appearances by 501st Legion Star Wars characters, face painting, giveaways, children's fun-zone, health booths and much more. Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero to help defeat this disease together.

This community-driven event is a collaborative effort between the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and Walgreens, who have partnered since its inception and together have raised more than $2 million thanks to the support of individuals, teams of families affected by diabetes, company teams, Walgreens associates and customers, volunteers, as well as corporate and media partners.

"Together with the Diabetes Research Institute, we are committed to providing access to resources as we continue to champion the health and well-being of every community in America," said Georgia Lehoczky, regional healthcare director at Walgreens. "We're proud to sponsor such a wonderful event that has helped to raise funds to support those living with Diabetes."

"It's incredible to see so many people from all walks of life come together in support of this common cause every year." said Tom Karlya, Vice President of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. "The South Florida community is truly a driving force for this event. That amazing local support combined with Walgreens' commitment to our mission, will help us continue to make strides toward curing diabetes."

Event organizers hope to give locals a chance to get active through a health initiative called Get Moving Miami-Dade, by providing various health-focused activities at the walk throughout the day, while supporting research for a cure for diabetes.

On the day of the event, race registration begins at 6 a.m., the run starts at 8 a.m., and the Kids Fun Run is at 8:40 a.m. The DRI Walk kicks off at 9 a.m. while the family fun activities continue through Noon. The Walk and activities are FREE to enjoy. There is a registration fee for the professionally chip-timed 5K/10K and Fun Run organized by MultiRace. For more information, visit WalgreensWalkDRI.org or call 1-800-321-3437.

Corporate partners to date include Walgreens, MultiRace, Go Run, Marlins Park, Miami Home Team, Dancing for Diabetes, Sky Zone, Aquafina, OmniPod, Wings for Life, Staywell, Comcast, Clear Channel Outdoor, Medtronic, Whole Foods, HoneyTree, Miracle Noodle, 93.9 MIA, 940 WINZ, BIG 105.9, 103.5 The Beat, PK's Throwback 105.5, 104.7 The Bull, TU 94.9, 610 WiOD, Y100 Miami, the Miami Herald, 790 the Ticket and the Beach 102.7. The DRI is actively seeking support from participants, corporate partners, sponsors, and volunteers.

About the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation: The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to develop a biological cure by restoring natural insulin production and normalizing blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that transplanted islet cells allow patients to live without the need for insulin therapy. Some study participants have maintained insulin independence for more than 10 years. The DRI is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing a DRI BioHub, a bioengineered "mini organ" that mimics the native pancreas. While various BioHub platforms are being tested in preclinical and clinical studies, the DRI is also developing strategies to eliminate the need for anti-rejection drugs and reset the immune system to block autoimmunity. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org, call 800-321-3437, or Tweet @Diabetes_DRI.

SOURCE Diabetes Research Institute Foundation