Dear Family & Friends,

On May 17^th 2008, I’m going on a 1-mile walk at Holiday World. I’m sure most people don’t write to you to announce their walking schedule. However, this is an important event for me, for the hundreds of thousands of young people, like my son Christopher, who suffer from diabetes. On May 17^th the walk to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will take place. I will be there because I want to find a cure for my son’s disease.

Christopher was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes January 22, 2008, at the age of 14. For the past two months living with diabetes has been a daily struggle. Each day he tests his blood sugar six to eight times a day. He also gives himself four insulin injections a day. Often times, the shots hurt and bruise his stomach but he understands that he must take the insulin to survive. But insulin is not a “cure” for diabetes, and Christopher will not “grow out” of the disease. Juvenile diabetes does not go away when you get older. Furthermore, it is the long-term complications from this destructive condition that we fear the most. They include potential for blindness, heart disease, vascular problems and kidney disease.

There is some good news. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the largest private funder of diabetes research in the world and since it was founded in 1970, has awarded over $1 billion to diabetes research. Last year this JDRF walk raised over $240,000. This year, their goal is to raise $250,000 for research!

Researchers in the field don’t talk about “if” they find the cure; they talk about “when”. By raising money I hope to make a difference and to speed up the time when a cure will be found. That is why we have organized a team to participate in and raise money for the JDRF Walk.

I am writing to ask for your help. Christopher, my daughter Haley, and I are willing to walk and we are hoping you are willing to contribute or walk with us. Your help could fund the research that provides the critical breakthrough towards creating a cure. We are hopeful that you, your family, and friends would be willing to contribute towards this worthy cause. Please make your tax deductible check out to “Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation” and mail it to the address below, or visit our team, “No Fear”, fundraising page at www.jdrf.org and make a pledge on-line. We appreciate your help and you taking the time to consider supporting this cause that is so important to us.

Sincerely,

Tammy Luker

9201 E. 400 S.

Birdseye, IN 47513