Walk for a Cure

Scores of CWA families literally followed in President Morton Bahr's footsteps May 16 as he helped lead 4,000 participants in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's three-mile Walk for a Cure in Washington, D.C., Joint CWA-Verizon teams accounted for about 300 walkers and hundreds of other union members also took part, raising more than $1 million for diabetes research. Bahr served as the event's union recruitment chair. About a million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, requiring daily shots of insulin. Because insulin can't cure diabetes or prevent such complications as kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and amputation, research funds are very important. CWA and Verizon worked together to make the National Capital Chapter walk a success, with members able to recruit walkers and solicit donations at job locations. The Verizon Fund matched employee contributions. Team captains were John Hughes, Local 2200; Jenny Sylvester, Local 2108; Brenda Savoy, Local 2236; William Steele, Local 2222, Jodi Fabrizio, CWA headquarters; and Maria Olivas, Verizon.