ZANESVILLE — Swimming or walking, about 30 people helped raise funds during the 36th annual Central Ohio Swim or Walk for Diabetes event at the Bishop Rosecrans pool.
Swimmers entered one of two categories, super swimmers, those swimming 76 laps or more, and regular swimmers, those swimming as many laps as they want. Super swimmers were given a T-shirt.
It was the last time the event, which locally has taken place for the past 21 years, will be conducted. Lisa Girton, pool leader, has been organizing the local event for the past 16 years and said the central Ohio chapter wants to try a new fundraiser that is more family oriented.
The news disappointed Bob Bone, who was swimming for the first time. His mother-in-law and a friend are diabetics so he went to his churches, area businesses, family and friends to get their support. His efforts raised about $1,000 for the cause.
“They shouldn’t stop,” he said. “Every little bit helps. A penny in the bucket helps the bucket grow. I felt I needed to give back.”
While Bone was swimming for the first time, Dru Williams has competed in all the local swims and said she would miss seeing Girton as she said goodbye. Williams has been a super swimmer all 21 years. Her personal best time for the mile swim is 36 minutes.
She started the swims “Just for something to do,” but now has other reasons to participate. Several family members had been diagnosed with the disease.
“I’m in the water for my health and several relatives who’ve died,” Williams said. “Growing up, we thought of it as older people’s disease. Now younger people are getting it, and it’s more of a problem now. It (swimming) is good exercise, and it raises the awareness of diabetes.”
A portion of the proceeds goes to a diabetes camp so youth with the disease can enjoy the camping experience.
Girton has a personal interest in raising funds for the organization. Her twin daughters, Rachel and Nichole, 20, were diagnosed with the disease when they were about 13 months old. It was a frightening time for the family as they had to learn to give insulin injections to the infants.
“I didn’t know anything about it (diabetes) until they go it,” Girton said. “You don’t have a choice (to give injections.) It’s kind of scary when you have to go in there (their room) and give them three or four shots a day. If you don’t, they’ll die.”
“Blood sugar fluctuates daily. Keeping your numbers (blood sugar levels) stable is a fight every day. Type I produces no insulin. Type II produces insulin, but the pancreas doesn’t function properly. It’s confusing because it’s really two different diseases. You can’t go without insulin as in Type I or you’ll die,” Girton added.
Girton stressed the importance of diet and exercise for those suffering Type II diabetes.
“It’s easier to get foot problems and eye problems. You can go blind if you let things go. You can have trouble with circulation in the feet. It (diabetes) puts stress on all your organs,” Girton said.
She encourages parents and youth to eat right and get more exercise to avoid getting Type II diabetes.
“More kids are getting Type II diabetes because of video games but they can eat right and exercise to avoid it. More overweight people are getting it now, but some people won’t change their ways,” she said.
