Valparaiso men’s basketball coach Homer Drew will serve as walk chairman this Sunday, September 27 for the 2009 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Northwest Indiana Walk to Cure Diabetes at HiddenLake Park in Merrillville.

The JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes (formerly known as juvenile diabetes) research worldwide.  Over 200 Walks to Cure Diabetes, which serve as the organization’s largest fundraising event, are held nationwide every year, including five in the state of Indiana.

Drew has had a number of personal experiences that led him to agree to serve as walk chairman.  His wife, Janet, was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, while he also has coached a number of players, including one just last season, who have battled the disease.

He will be supported in his role as walk chairman by many others from Valparaiso University.  Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be participating in the walk, and both squads will be available for autographs following the walk’s completion, as will the members of the Valpo Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  Assistant professor of education Sherry DeMik will be bringing a group of students to participate in the walk as well, along with numerous other people from the Crusader community.

For more information on how to donate or how to participate in Sunday’s walk, you can contact the JDRF office at 574-273-1810 or visit www.jdrf.org/northindiana.