Every year, over 900 000 people all over the USA participate in more than 200 JDRF Onewalks to raise funds for research into the disease that is Type 1 Diabetes. Omaha and Council Bluffs residents had their opportunity to participate in a Onewalk on August 20, 2016 and the Rapid Relief Team was there to help out.

The day started off with a bang at 5 o’clock a.m.  Blustery weather greeted all the 30 Rapid Relief Team volunteers as they gathered at the RRT tent at the entrance to Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha, Nebraska. After obtaining instructions for the day, the RRT volunteers split into groups and headed to do their respective jobs, while trying to find sweatshirts and jackets to keep warm (in the middle of August!).

Smelling the scent of rain about to come, RRT volunteers scurried about the landing, setting up tents, sponsor signs, balloons, tables and chairs, and moving vast quantities of water bottles for the 6,000 expected participants! A few Rapid Relief Team members were also given the job of taking and arranging the team photos for the JDRF organization to use in their future marketing material.

At 9 o’clock a.m. the walk started, so the RRT had a well-deserved rest!  The small break while the walkers were on the route gave volunteers some time to restock water, soda, and PowerAde in all the big coolers and tankers.

The route consisted of 2 miles and participants had the option of a further mile if they wished. The event proved to be a great success with over $450,000 raised to help the research and fight against Diabetes.

After the event, as the crowd dwindled, RRT got busy cleaning up.  This simply consisted of taking down and breaking up everything they had put together just 7 hours previously!  So with weary feet and happy smiles, the Rapid Relief Team loaded up and went home, looking forward to helping out at future events.

Related Articles

Community | Compassion | Support

Help us make a difference

Contribute through monthly or one-off donations and support the Rapid Relief Team’s work across Australia