My name is Christine Schaeberle and in the fall of 2008, I founded the Red Strider program in Denver, Colorado. For several years, I had been volunteering and working on the Step Out Walk in Denver and when the opportunity arose to start the Red Striders, I was so very excited. Since 2008, it has been my passion and desire to get the Red Strider program to grow and spread throughout the country.

This is my Red Strider Story...

In May of 2003, I was in my doctor’s office for a routine annual physical and it was then that I was diagnosed with diabetes. The day my doctor said “you have diabetes” is a day I will never forget, and a day when my life drastically changed. Initially, it was very hard to accept the idea that my life would now include the challenges of managing diabetes every day. After my diagnosis, I knew it was time to change my ways. I set out to understand this disease, understand how it affected me personally and began to change the way I lived my life. I began to understand eating habits, nutrition, exercise, blood sugar numbers, testing my blood sugar, insulin needs, stress, and many other things.

I am so happy to report that my diabetes is well controlled and I manage this disease, it does not manage me. However, I do know how difficult it can be when you are first diagnosed, how helpful it is to have a great diabetes support system around you, how frustrating the disease can be and how important it is to find a cure. It is all of these things that led me straight to the American Diabetes Association shortly after I was diagnosed. I wanted to make a difference and I wanted to be a part of the movement to Stop Diabetes.

Today, I am married and have two beautiful children and not only do I know how to keep my diabetes in check but so does my family. On those scary occasions when my blood sugar has gone way too low, I have often needed the help of my husband and my children are so aware of Mommy and her needing a shot of insulin before eating.

Whenever I am talking about diabetes or encouraging people to get involved in the Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, I often am heard telling people “I never get to take a vacation from this disease”. Every day, I have to check my blood sugar four to six times, give myself insulin shots two to three times, get in some type of exercise, keep constantly aware of what I’m eating and when I’m eating and try to manage any stress or unfortunate low blood sugars. There is never a break from this disease and that is why the Red Striders are so important to me. On Walk day, it is our chance to recognize, support, and celebrate all the people who have diabetes. On Walk day, when I look out and see all the Red Strider hats, I know that I am not alone in this fight, and I also know that we must continue to fight this disease and find a cure.

Your Turn!

First and foremost, if you have already registered for the Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes in your area, thank you for registering and we look forward to honoring you on Walk Day. If you have not registered, than please join with us and register today! I promise you that you will have a great time at the Walk! We want to honor you as a Red Strider, so please join us.

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The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading 501(C)3 nonprofit charity providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.

Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes® is the premier fundraising campaign of the American Diabetes Association ^®, now with virtual engagement designed for anyone and everyone to participate. The campaign has been expanded to include more members of our community and bring them together to learn about diabetes, healthy living and to support people living with diabetes. Step Out is a unique opportunity for businesses, clubs, friends and families to form virtual teams with the vision of a life free of diabetes and all its burdens.