22 Sep Amazing Athletes South Bay teams up with JDRF!

Preschool sports enrichment program, Amazing Athletes, joins JDRF’s Greater Bay Area chapter in the fight to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Amazing Athletes South Bay is teaming up with the local Greater Bay Area chapter of the JDRF to raise awareness and critical funds for research to cure Type 1 diabetes (T1D) once and for all.

Events started on Aug. 23 with JDRF’s annual kick-off and conclude on Oct. 18 with a one-mile Walk to Cure Diabetes starting at California’s Great America theme park in Santa Clara. The kick-off event is designed to give families the opportunity to learn about the latest T1D research and sign up for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. The walk encourages those with T1D and their friends and families to join together to walk and raise money for a cure.

Amazing Athletes South Bay will be present at both events to bring fun and fitness to families and participants. Owner and coach; Nicolette Brits will be on hand to provide a variety of activities to get kids moving, including motor development games like hoop tossing, throwing activities, balancing, obstacle courses and sport challenges that include soccer, lacrosse, hockey, basketball and more!

Brits said her nephew Austin was diagnosed with T1D when he was just three years old, which is what prompted her involvement in the diabetes research foundation this year.

“He is now 12 and one of the most active kids I know,” she said. “He is a great example of someone who is not letting his diabetes limit him or hold him back. It’s definitely a big responsibility to stay on top of managing his blood glucose levels, but he has snacks ready at all times. Staying healthy and active is such an important part of a good T1D treatment plan. I’d like to help promote a healthy and active lifestyle and highlight what’s out there for young children to participate in through Amazing Athletes.”

Studies show that although people with T1D can gain the same benefits from exercise as anybody else, many people with T1D do not engage in regular physical activity because they are afraid it will cause hypoglycemia or dangerously low blood-glucose levels. Brits and Amazing Athletes South Bay, however, hope to use the JDRF kick-off and Walk to Cure Diabetes events to show that people with T1D can lead safe and active lifestyles.

“Amazing Athletes South Bay wants to help emphasize and support the fact that children who have been diagnosed with T1D don’t have to sit on the sideline!” said Brits.

JDRF’s annual kick-off event took place at Stanford University on Aug. 23, and The Walk to Cure Diabetes will take place at California’s Great America amusement park in Santa Clara on Oct. 18 with registration open at 7:30 a.m. and the walk beginning at 9 a.m. Among other companies, vendors and fun-filled activities, Amazing Athletes will be on hand hosting sporty games and activities for children of all ages to enjoy.

For more information about Amazing Athletes South Bay, visit www.aa.soccersandbox.com/southbay. For more information about Amazing Athletes’ involvement in the upcoming events, contact Nicolette Brits at 408-799-7014 or email nicolette@aa.soccersandbox.com.