More than 2500 people signed up to join the 21st Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes at Delaware Park. I had the honor of speaking to the crowd on behalf of Channel 4 — a longtime sponsor of the Walk.

Because I have been a part of the Walk to Cure Diabetes for several years, I’ve gotten to know many of the families who are battling this life-changing disease. Though Type-1 Diabetes has typically been known as juvenile diabetes, 85% of the people who have it are adults!

Patrick Marks, the President of the JDRF Board of Directors who lives with Type-1 Diabetes, brought his son along with draw the winning raffle ticket. Kathleen Graim of Tops Markets provided the pool of tickets for the $500 drawing. Tops has been a loyal supporter of JDRF and hosts many fundraising programs.

We headed to the starting line in a golf cart loaded with children you have seen in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk public service announcements over the years: Mallory, Olivia, and Zak among them.

Children with Type-1 diabetes were invited to write their names on the roadway where the Walk will begin. It’s believed some 15,000 WNYers live with Type-1 diabetes. There is no cure.

It’s always great to see how much the children have grown each year as they learn to cope with the life changes that juvenile diabetes brings their way. The Buffalo Fire Department was on hand to help start the Walk. Paul Tatu of the BFD, a JDRF Board Member, helped organize the transition to Delaware Park this year.

Here’s the scene as thousands of walkers line up to join in the Walk to Cure Diabetes on Ring Road.

Karen Swierski, Executive Director of the WNY Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, can smile as the biggest fundraiser of the year for the chapter is ready to step off under blue skies and sunshine!

And they’re off! Thousands of people begin their 1.7 mile trip around Ring Road in the Walk to Cure Diabetes. Team “Inspiremily” was wearing purple shirts to support a child with juvenile diabetes.

You can see several different teams walking together with the common goal of finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. After the federal government, JDRF is the biggest funder of diabetes research in the world.

Some families came up with creative ways for show their support for loved ones living with juvenile diabetes.

Though we never caught up with young Erin McCarthy, we did spot these team members of “Erin’s Shamrocks”: Peggy, Kelly, little Sam, and Mrs. Spoth!

I interviewed Ryan Standish about how his family’s life has changed since Tyler was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes. Tyler, age 5, is doing well and is ready to start school in the fall.

News 4 videographer Josh Roy joined me in Delaware Park to provide news coverage of the Walk to Cure Diabetes. Here, we are interviewing Ryan Standish. His son, Tyler, lives with juvenile diabetes which requires life-long injections of insulin.

It’s great to see the children with juvenile diabetes growing and flourishing. CeCe Loicano poses here with one of the great warriors in the fight against diabetes — JDRF Executive Director Karen Swierski.

SpongeBob stopped in Delaware Park to say hello and support the Walk to Cure Diabetes.

We have lots of friends in the quest to cure diabetes: Barney, SpongeBob, and Dora the Explorer.

Here’s a team rallying around 6 year old Courtney of Buffalo, who was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes last fall. Courtney’s twin, Corey, was excited to be part of the team.

I look forward to seeing MacKenzie Duffy each year. Now in 7th grade, she has participated in the JDRF Walk for 9 years as a child who has lived with juvenile diabetes for most of her life.

The lively crew from the BlueCross BlueShield Healthy Zone Cruiser set up in Delaware Park to engage the young JDRF walkers in healthy activities after the Walk.

The Walk to Cure Diabetes included admission to the Buffalo Zoo and many of the walkers waited in line to see the Zoo’s celebrated polar bear cubs — Luna and Kali!

We saw both cubs. We think this is Kali enjoying a dip in the pool on a warm June day.

Janeen Duffy, who has participated in the JDRF Walk for nine years on behalf of her daughter, MacKenzie, snapped this photo in a close encounter (through the glass) at the Buffalo Zoo.

I’m not ‘lion’ — it was a great day for the Walk to Cure Diabetes in Delaware Park and the Buffalo Zoo.

I’ll stick my neck out here and say it was one of the best Walks to Cure Diabetes that JDRF has ever hosted in WNY!

Even though the crowd looked sizable Saturday afternoon, some vendors said they could tell many shoppers were waiting for better weather Sunday to head to the 56th Allentown Art Festival.

I absolutely love the magnificent “Swallowtail Beauty” that watercolor artist Jody Ziehm showed this year at Allentown. It sold shortly after she opened on Saturday. Jody is excited about a new venture in which you and your friends can create your own watercolor in a party atmosphere. Learn more at her Facebook page MypaintingUncorked.

It’s always a head-turner to see Buffalo police officers on Segways!

Fresh from being voted Buffalo’s Best Photographer 2013 in Artvoice, Mark Callen says he was very happy to be able to rent a roomier ‘double-wide’ booth at Allentown – the first time this has been an option for vendors. Callen says if a single booth gets too crowded, potential buyers will walk right by.

Wine connoisseur Kevin Lovullo and his wife, Jackie Re Lovullo, a local artist, were taking in the atmosphere Saturday in Allentown.

Many festival-goers took an extended walk on Allen Street to enjoy the much more eclectic Allen West Festival — a non-juried street fair with music, food, and craftier fare. A different atmosphere and lots of fun.

What a surprise to run into the Stanz family from Hamburg. They operate Outback Kettle Corn, which is a personal favorite of mine. I got to know this close-knit and determined family after Staff Sgt. John Stanz was seriously wounded while serving our country in Afghanistan. John suffered life-changing injuries. It was good to see him and his parents, John and Sandy, smiling today.

The Buffalo Police Department had its “Eye in the Sky” watching over the crowd Saturday at the Allentown Art Festival.

“Skywatch” is now a regular feature of Buffalo Police Department security measures when large crowds gather. We last saw it at the finish line of the Buffalo Marathon two weeks ago.

Buffalo Illustrator Mike Gelen and his wife, graphic designer Ellen Stay-Gelen, were having a good day at their Inkwell Studios booth despite the chilly, damp conditions.

Deputy Wayne Wolf on Thunder and his colleagues from the Erie County Sheriff’s Mounted Division were all part of crowd control as they greeted visitors at the 56th Allentown Art Festival.

Three children with Type 1 Diabetes joined me here at the Channel 4 studios to record a Public Service Announcement for the 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes. Mallory Esford is age 7 and Tyler Standish is 5. Emily Dickey is a very active 4th-grader who has been profiled on News 4 previously because of her fundraising efforts for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

We take directions from Jim Diavastes, WIVB-TV producer of the PSA for the 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Videographer Roy Schrodt keeps us in view as he records the PSA for the 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes.

7 year old Mallory Esford is a lively first grader from Hamburg who was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age three.

5 year old Tyler Standish is a fun-loving pre-schooler who has been living with Juvenile Diabetes since age two.

Look for us in the PSA for the 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes now airing on Channel 4. And, join us for the Walk on June 9th in Delaware Park and the Buffalo Zoo!

Buffalo Walk MS moved to Canalside in 2013 under blue skies and sunshine!

Some 2,000 people joined us at Canalside to raise money for the programs of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. WNY has one of the highest rates of MS in the entire country.

With News 4 Videographer Josh Roy I interviewed walkers with multiple sclerosis for the News 4 Buffalo evening newscasts. MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system with a wide range of symptoms.

Sandy LaSpada of Lockport, who has multiple sclerosis, is the leader of Team Smurfs. The Smurfs are among the highest fundraisers for Walk MS.

Carole Marra of Sanborn was interviewed for News Four about her son’s challenges with MS. Joey Marra, to her right in the sunglasses, is now 16 and was diagnosed with MS at age 8 — perhaps the youngest person ever to receive this diagnosis in WNY.

I was proud to be part of Team Joey this year. Joey Marra, age 16 wearing sunglasses, lives with MS. Every day is a challenge, but Joey has been able to maintain his spot on the honor roll!

Linda Pautler of Cheektowaga is hopeful research will change her life, but also that research will keep other from being diagnosed with MS.

Assemblyman Dennis Gabrysak is a member of the legislative alliance in Albany that aims to keep issues related to MS in the forefront.

State Senator Mark Grisanti and State Assemblyman Dennis Gabrysak, both members of the MS legislative alliance in Albany, spoke to the Walk MS crowd.

Before Walk MS stepped off we took a few minutes to give details and safety instructions.

Many of the people who join Walk MS have multiple sclerosis or are walking on behalf of a relative, friend, or co-worker who does. Some 3400 people in the Buffalo area have MS.

I have been honored to be part of Walk MS for more than 25 years… with the support of WIVB-TV Ch. 4, a major Walk sponsor.

As the clock hit 10 AM on Saturday, May 4, we were good to go. Get ready, get set, walk!

My former co-worker “Troubleshooter” Lee Coppola and his great family were among the walkers. They represented Team Coolture. Coolture is a local company that makes a cooling vest designed for those who have difficulty tolerating heat — a big problem for many people with MS.

A great team called “Gracefully Here.” They’re supporting Christina Douglas from Niagara Falls, to my right, whom you may recognize because she appeared with me on billboards and in the Walk MS announcement which aired on Ch. 4.

Rich Warden of Silver Creek was diagnosed with MS in 1995. His family and friends formed ‘Warden’s Walkers” and they have been with us every year since 1996 among the highest team fundraisers. They are dedicated to the mission of finding the causes of MS and, hopefully, a cure!

A big thank you to all the Walk MS volunteers like Mary and Rick. We couldn’t do it without them!

After Walk MS it’s time to enjoy the sunny weather with hot dogs, music, and sunshine!

Walk MS raises money for local patient programs and for research into new treatments and someday, a cure for multiple sclerosis.

WIVB-TV News 4 Buffalo sent our nominees to the 56th Annual New York Emmy Awards last weekend in New York City.  Emily Guggenmos, Lou Raguse, News Director Joe Schlaerth, Ed Drantch, Mike Mombrea, Jr., Diana Fairbanks, and myself were among the nominees. (Rich Newberg is missing from this photo.)  My husband, Mike, is next to me.

The 56th Annual Emmy Awards were held in the Marriott Marquis on Times Square.

Hundreds of people filled the Marriott Marquis ballroom for the 56th Annual New York Emmy Awards on April 14, 2013.

It was a pleasure to meet former talk show host Dick Cavett who made a stage appearance at the New York Emmy Awards.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, well-known sex therapist, was a presenter for the New York Emmy Awards.

This photo is of very poor quality but you may recognize singer and Emmy presenter Dionne Warwick standing between Lori and Rich Newberg. Next to Rich is Mike Mombrea, Jr., myself, and my husband, Mike.  We had just a moment to line up for the photo before the award ceremony. 

The 56th Annual New York Emmy Awards are about to begin in the Marriott Marquis ballroom. The vast majority of the Emmy nominees are from the New York City media market.

My husband and I enjoyed the night we were part of this glittering event. My Emmy nomination was for anchoring during the Nik Wallenda wirewalk across Niagara Falls.

Singer Judy Collins was among the presenters for the 56th Annual New York Emmy Awards.

Diana Fairbanks, Ed Drantch, and me during the dinner and awards ceremony at the WIVB-TV table.

So, no one from our group won an Emmy, but we all know “it’s an honor to be nominated” and it was great to be part of this big event.

We invite you to join us for Walk MS, Saturday, May 4th, in a new location this year on the Buffalo waterfront. Joanne Schiffhauer of Orchard Park was diagnosed in 2010.  Ron Surdej of West Seneca has lived with MS for 5 years.  Rich Warden of Silver Creek first learned he had MS 17 years ago.  Christina Douglas of Niagara Falls heard her diagnosis in 2011.

We gathered in the WIVB-TV studios to record a public service announcement about Walk MS.  Roy Schrodt was our videographer.

We have a lot of information to give in under :15 seconds, so the stopwatch is a must!

A video shoot requires patience and more than one take!

With the green screen behind us, you will see a different background in the finished PSA.

Director Jim Diavastes gives us cues with Maria Batt and Christy Missico of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society watching the action.

It’s not over until Director Jim Diavastes says it’s over!

All who participated in the shoot pose for one last photo on the News 4 set.  We hope you will join us to raise money for patient aid and research on May 4 at Walk MS.