More than 800 people put on their walking shoes Sunday to show support for juvenile diabetes patients. Among them was a 25 member team called "Zia’s Glitter Gang."
Zophia "Zia" Phelps of Coventry was diagnosed with the disease, also known as type one diabetes, less than two months ago.
"It’s been a whirlwind," said her mother Shannon.
The Phelps family’s lives were turned upside down when nine-year-old Zia received her diagnosis.
"Before she was diagnosed we didn’t know much about type 1," Shannon added.
They’re still learning. Every meal is weighed and measured, carbs counted, and Zia’s blood sugar is constantly checked. Though, Zia is pretty excited she still gets to eat dessert.
"I can still have sugar cause I know one of the big misconceptions is that I just can’t eat sugar," said Zia.
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The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s annual walk around Rentschler Field took Zia’s mind off the difficult days she’s had since her diagnosis, and it showed her something else: that she’s not alone.
"It means a lot. It means the world," said Zia’s father John. "They have this disease that has to be managed but they can live normal lives and they can see other people who are living normal lives."
More than 800 people walked in East Hartford Sunday and they raised more than $360,000 for JDRF. The organization says nearly a million people take part in events like this nationwide every year.
"JDRF’s mission is to create a world without type one diabetes," the executive director of the Connecticut JDRF chapter, Jon Muskrat. "Treating the disease has become a lot of easier through technology but there’s still a lot more to be done."
Despite its name, JDRF affects adults and children. In fact, Muskrat says 80 percent of patients are over the age of 18. There is no cure. For more information, click here.
There will be another fundraising walk at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk on Oct. 29.
