Reaching Out: NSCHS (now CVH&C) employees walk for diabetes
Tulips - 10 kilometers - Fundraising. Once again employees of North Snohomish County Health System (now Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics), including Fran Jones, Amy Bishop, Sherry Taxdahl, and Beverly Geer, joined hundreds of walkers in the Tour de Fleur on April 21. 2001.
Sponsored by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Tour de Fleur, an official Skagit Valley Tulip Festival event, is a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) scenic course. It travels along country roads through farmlands and colorful fields of daffodils and tulips.
Each walker paid $20 dollars to enter and was encouraged to collect pledges as donations to the ADA. Donations are used for diabetes research and education.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 10.3 million people have been diagnosed with this disease that is also the leading cause of newly diagnosed cases of blindness, nerve disease, and non-traumatic amputation.
"We had a record setting year this year," exclaimed Carol Stripling, District Manager for the ADA. "There were 981 walkers who raised $75,000. That is 60 percent higher than last year!"
Not only did the Tour de Fleur beat it's own record for number of walkers and funds raised, it also became the highest fund raising event ever held by the ADA in Northwest Washington.
"We had a really good time," shared Jones. "Mariachi music, good food, and lots of beautiful flowers, what could be better. The plus was that it was all for such a good cause."
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only. It should not replace a visit with your health care professional. Call your doctor if you need more information or have additional questions.