For the eighth consecutive year, Yamaha Cares participated in the Southern California Half Marathon and 5K races to raise money for Type 1 juvenile diabetes research at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children’s).
In January, over a dozen Yamaha staff members and friends completed one of the two races and more than 150 individuals contributed donations, the highest number of participants since the program’s inception. The money raised—more than $18,000 with the help of Yamaha Cares—brings the grand total of overall donations to just over $95,000.
The check was presented last week to CHOC Children’s, one of just a handful of research facilities, in the U.S., trying to find a cure for Type 1 juvenile diabetes.
The Jewell family and Yamaha Cares last week presented a check for more than $18,000 to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) for Type 1 juvenile diabetes research. Taking part in the presentation were (Left to Right) Winnie Tran, Manager, Corporate Relations, CHOC; Dave Jewell, marketing communications manager, Yamaha Corporation of America; his wife Beth; their daughter Katrina,who was once a young patient at the center and now works there as a phlebotomist; and Dr. Mark Daniels, lead physician for the endocrine team at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
“Whether it’s running in one of the races, pledging financial support or both, year after year, participation rises to an even higher level in so many ways. What really touches and inspires me is that on top of the money raised for such an important cause, everyone who participates does so with a true attitude of caring, which attests to the spirit of giving at Yamaha and beyond,” said Dave Jewell, Marketing Communications Manager, Yamaha Corporation of America.
Jewell began to raise funds and awareness for the hospital after doctors diagnosed his daughter, Katrina, with Type 1 juvenile diabetes in 2005. This year was particularly special for Katrina, now 23: not only did she complete the half marathon, but she’s also employed as a CHOC Children’s phlebotomist.
For more information on Yamaha Cares, visit http://4wrd.it/YAMAHACARES.