The Ohio University Aquatic Center hosted its annual Swim for Diabetes yesterday.
The Athens location, benefitting the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, was one of 43 pools in the Central Ohio area that host a swim to raise money for diabetes, said Charles Farmer, public relations manager for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.
There was no fee to participate, and swimmers could register ahead of time or on the day of the swim. Thirty swimmers were pre-registered for the swim, said Matt Cahill, an OU senior and volunteer with Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity that helps with the event.
The turnout was lower than last year's, down from 64 swimmers who raised $3,400 at the aquatic center, said Farmer.
The money raised will go for services such as detection, screening and education for diabetes. Farmer also said part of the money would go to efforts to recruit organizations in the Athens County area to work with the diabetes association.
All the money stays in Central Ohio
Farmer said.
The amount of money raised for the event will not be known until donations are due April 7, Cahill said.
In 1999, about 2,711 people ages 18 and older were diagnosed with diabetes in the Athens area, Farmer said. But the true number of people with diabetes is nearly double that when undiagnosed cases are considered.
Diabetes affects a person's ability to make or respond to insulin, which is a hormone that lets blood glucose enter the body and be used for energy, according to http://www.diabetesohio.org. Type 1 diabetes comes from the body's inability to produce insulin. It is more common with young adults. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, is caused when the body is not able to produce enough insulin or to use it properly.
Alden Gilliom, 12, and her 10-year-old sister, Ryan, achieved the status of super swimmer by swimming one mile at the event.
About 11 other participants also completed at least one mile, Cahill said.
Some swimmers became involved because they have friends or relatives who are affected by diabetes.
Gilliom's mother, Amy King, said their friend has gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy and increases chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Because of her friend's experiences with diabetes and the diabetes association, her daughters decided to participate.
People were very generous with pledges King said. I think we'll probably do it again.
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Ohio University pre-med student Johanna Vandenverer swims laps yesterday morning for the annual Central Ohio Diabetes Association's Swim for Diabetes at the OU Aquatic Center. Volunteers from Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity, helped mak
