Walk to school raises awareness for diabetes

Published 10:06 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

Walking is fun, even in the rain. Dozens of Cascade View Elementary School students, teachers, administrators and parents walked to school Friday, Oct. 6, to raise awareness for diabetes.

“I wish we did this every day ‘cuz it’s fun,” said fourth-grader Anthony Tassielli. Usually his mother drives him to school.

He and the other students were well aware of what they were there for: diabetes. The school teamed with the American Diabetes Association to promote the community walk as a way to raise awareness of how things like walking every day can help reduce the risk of diabetes, while also providing other health benefits.

Plus, it was fun. Even a little drizzle didn’t dampen the spirits of the boisterous grade-schoolers as they walked a round-about route to school, joined along the way by other students who live on the route.

“Hey, there’s a school bus,” shouted fourth-grader Michael Storie as the yellow bus drove toward the group. “Don’t pick us up.”

The walk, which was divided into three different groups, was headed by Tim Nootenboom, principal; Dan Bubar, physical education teacher; and Becky McLaughlin, who has a daughter with diabetes. The three groups started from Azalea Park, the intersection of Fairway and Muir and the entrance to Ironwood at Snoqualmie Parkway at about 8 a.m. and met along the way, arriving at the school around 8:20 a.m. The students also raised money, but the amount is unknown.