The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) Long Island Chapter announced today that it raised over $1.3 million during its 2005 "Walk to Cure Diabetes." This year's event was a huge success, attracting more than 4,000 walkers at each site - Belmont Lake State Park in Babylon and SUNY College at Old Westbury. The "Walk to Cure Diabetes" is the largest walk to take place on Long Island, with one team alone bringing in $150,000 in contributions.

"It was truly touching to see so many people come and support the Walk to Cure Diabetes," stated Barbara Rogus, executive director of the JDRF's Long Island Chapter. "With money still coming in, we will exceed $1.3 million, a record high. I would like to thank everyone for their continued support as well as those who are first time contributors. It is important that our organization continues to spread awareness and expand so that we will one day have a cure for juvenile diabetes. We have come so far and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead."

The annual "Walk to Cure Diabetes" is JDRF's fastest growing fundraising event in the history of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The walk is a national and international effort raising more than $80 million a year at more than 220 sites in the United States and dozens more in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Each year, more than 750,000 people walk to cure diabetes. Walkers raise funds by asking friends, relatives and co-workers to sponsor them for participating.

Founded in 1970 by parents of children with juvenile (type 1) diabetes, JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of juvenile diabetes research worldwide. The disease strikes children suddenly, making them insulin-dependent for life while carrying the constant threat of devastating complications. Since establishment, JDRF has provided more than $900 million in direct funding to diabetes research and 85 percent of JDRF's expenditure in a typical year directly supports research and research-related education. The mission to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research is constant. For more information, visit the JDRF website at www.jdrf.org or call (631) 414-1126.