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The South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association is asking the community to rally support and raise awareness of children fighting diabetes by participating in its upcoming Sweet Run.

The local nonprofit will be hosting it’s eighth annual awareness run, in which participants across the region can commit to one of four challenges: running 3, 5, 10, or more than 15 miles during the month of March.

Runners should sign up to through the organization’s website, www.stjda.org. Registration is free, and participants will receive a medal and T-shirt.

This is the first time STJDA has hosted the event virtually, and the organization’s executive director and founder Deborah Franco says because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, supporting children suffering from diabetes has never been more critical.

“Unfortunately because of COVID, and because school has been virtual, and because children just aren’t getting out as much, they aren’t being as active as they should be,” Franco said. “We are seeing a rise in children that are struggling with diabetes. So, that is a red flag that we are going in the wrong direction, and anything we can do to just get more people active and get out there and do more things as a family is just a good thing right now.”

Runners will be able to complete their miles wherever they feel comfortable, whether it is at a gym, around the neighborhood, or on a treadmill at home.

“Whatever they feel safe doing, then that is what we want them to do,” Franco said. “We want them to feel safe and we want them to show their support as well.”

Participants will be encouraged to post about their progress throughout the month on social media to rally more support and runners for STJDA, which will be collecting donations for its operations.

The STJDA was founded in 2011 by several local parents of children with diabetes, and now runs 14 programs that offer services for families with young diabetics. One of the programs includes Camp Freedom, a summer camp offering educational activities and games for children with diabetes.

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There are more than 3,500 children with diabetes in the Valley, according to Franco, and many more who are considered prediabetic.

The Sweet Run got its name because in previous years, organizers offered orange juice and gummies at water stations on the running trail to ensure that young diabetic participants were maintaining proper blood sugar levels.

Franco, whose son Luke has diabetes, says sporting support for children with the disease goes a long way for them.

“For these children, knowing that people in the community are out there supporting them means the world,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve heard kids say it feels so good to know that people love and care about me, so I think that is what personifies what the Sweet Run is all about: to show that these children in our community are not forgotten and they are supported.”