Priceville Elementary students join in the JDRF Kids Walk for Diabetes at PES Tues., April 21. | Joy Haynes

Priceville Elementary School surpassed their goal of raising $1,200 for type 1 diabetes research by raising over $2,245 during their Kids Walk for Diabetes Tues., April 21.

PES has three students and one teacher with T1D. The walk was held in honor or memory of anyone who has or is struggling with the disease.

Students sold paper sneakers from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and accepted donations in memory or honor of friends and family members. These sneakers were proudly displayed on the wall across from the gym in the school, overflowing to other walls.

The entire school of over 720 students and several visitors participated in the walk around the football field track. The first lap around the track was dedicated to the PES students and teacher battling T1D. A local family who lost a son who had T1D also attended the event.

Sophia Clotfelter is a kindergarten teacher at the school and the mother of PES third grader Anna Catherine Clotfelter who has T1D. She helped organize the third annual walk and fund raiser.

“Anna Catherine was diagnosed with T1D when she was 4 ½ years old,” Clotfelter said. “As a mother, I really want to see it cured, and this seemed like a good way for PES to show their support. The support shown to the PES family dealing with T1D is the main focus of this event. We also want to raise awareness and money for research, but it’s very special that those people know that their friends here at PES are behind them.”

Students Kaite Partridge and Emalee Hammon and first grade teacher Danita Hale have T1D. Part of the event was a lesson from JDRF about a day in the life of a person with T1D.

“I think it really helped the students learn what life is like with T1D,” Clotfelter said. “Their awareness will hopefully spread, and the entire community will learn more about T1D. JDRF was so helpful to come out and help us with this. They are constantly hosting these types of events, and we are glad we were able to see so much support at our own JDRF Kids Walk for Diabetes. It means so much to us to see how much everyone cares.”