STEPS AGAINST DIABETES BRAVING HEAT FOR FUND-RAISER.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Sun, sweat and the yearning for a cure drew some 600 walkers and volunteers Sunday to the annual Walk for Diabetes, together taking on the debilitating disease one step at a time.

The 10th annual fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association's Santa Clarita chapter took participants on a 4.5-mile trek along Bridgeport Park and the surrounding area, under a blazing sun.

The group was aiming to raise about $130,000 for research and education on the disease, which afflicts some 18,000 people throughout the city, chapter president Dan Jones said.

``About 85 percent of the funds raised go toward education and finding a cure,'' said Jones, whose two daughters, ages 7 and 9, are diabetic. ``It's an outreach as well. When you first get diagnosed, it's truly overwhelming. You don't know where to go.''

Jones' 9-year-old daughter Camille was still full of spunk after the walk, prancing about the crowd while a small, black box strapped to her waist administered timed insulin shots.

Asked what life is like without sugar, she said: ``It's horrible. Like at a birthday, you can't have five pieces of cake.''

More than 17 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and complications can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and severe infections leading to foot and leg amputations.

The disease appeared to have touched all who took to the trail Sunday. Rob Muchnicki, 48 of Valencia was walking in support of friends diagnosed with diabetes.

``When you think about the children who have to give themselves insulin shots all day, I just can't imagine it,'' he said. ``If we can get the funds to make their lives easier, that's great.''

Tom Ross, 41 of Valencia has a friend in Colorado who is battling the disease.

``He still gets up go to work every day,'' Ross said. ``I just want to show my support for people who are less fortunate. The walk represents the struggle of the people who are living with diabetes every day.''

Pushpa Ramachandran, a laboratory manager for Kaiser Permanente, collected $250 to battle the disease.

``My grandfather and my father have diabetes,'' she said. ``There are too many cases in America. I'd like to find a cure for it.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Participants stroll forth in the America's Walk for Diabetes in Bridgeport Park in Valencia on Sunday morning.

(2 -- color in SAC edition only) A balloon canopy forms the starting line for the America's Walk for Diabetes in Valencia's Bridgeport Park.

(3 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Jackie Smith and her friend Cisco walk during the diabetes fund-raiser, while Jackie's diabetic son, Gavin, 2, relaxes in the stroller.

Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News