RENO — Reno Aces will help the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) “Strike Out” diabetes Oct. 14, as more than 5,000 people from around the community invade the University of Nevada, Reno campus for the annual Walk to Cure Diabetes.

The walk, also known by many children with juvenile (or type 1) diabetes as the Day of Hope, is the largest annual fundraising event for the Northern Nevada Branch of JDRF.

“JDRF is grateful for the incredible partnership with the Reno Aces for the 2012 Walk to Cure Diabetes,” said Maryann Zucker, president of the northern Nevada Branch of JDRF. “The annual walk is our largest fundraising event and we think this year’s baseball theme will draw an impressive group of sponsors and walk teams.”

JDRF has a singular mission to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. The Reno-based walk raised more than $250,000 dollars last year to help bring a cure home to northern Nevada residents living with diabetes.

The walk ventures around the university campus with a single 4.5-mile loop.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk starting at 10 a.m. in front of the new IGT Knowledge Center and Joe Crowley Student Union.

The event is family and dog friendly and offers plenty of surprises, snacks, beverages and lunch. This year’s baseball-themed event will also feature fun, interactive children’s activities.

The walk is also an opportunity for corporate participation through sponsorship or forming a team. Corporate teams offer an opportunity to strengthen employee moral while giving back to the community and sponsorship is an easy way to increase the visibility of your brand to more than 5,000 potential customers.

Diabetes is the single most costly chronic disease and more than 24 million American adults and children suffer from this chronic, debilitating disease. In fact, one out of every three children born in the U.S. from the year 2000 on will develop some form of diabetes in their lifetime.

There are two major types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Taking insulin does not cure any type of diabetes nor prevent the possibility of its eventual and devastating effects: kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputation, heart attack, stroke and pregnancy complications. Diabetes accounts for a staggering $174 billion in health care costs in the U.S. annually and, in Nevada, it accounts for $167 million annually.

Join JDRF and the Reno Aces to Strike Out Diabetes by registering for the walk at www.walk.jdrf.org. For more information, or to become a sponsor, call 786.1881 or email northernnevada@jdrf.org.