Did anyone every suffer from "D Walk Fatigue?"

[Beach bum]

Have you ever chosen not to do the annual diabetes walk? I just can't seem to get myself psyched up for the walk this year. I'm just tired of doing it, because it means another year of D. Now, I know every year brings us closer to a cure, or at least technology that will make A's life so much better (from a D standpoint), and that is the reason that will get me motivated, but I definitely have walk fatigue.

Anyone else ever feel the same?

[OSUMom]

I wish there was a national or local event scheduled for other diabetes charities I want to have my friends and families support. I know I can do something in my home - but I'm just not that kind of big fundraiser. I can get a group to join a big event and go walk. My enthusiasm is more with, say, Children with Diabetes Foundation. :D

[BrendaK]

I've NEVER done our own walk. I walked with Westinsmom once and that was great, but I cannot get up the motivation to fundraise. I got really upset with the ADA once when I did some volunteer work -- they basically lied to me on the phone to get me to volunteer. So maybe I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. I feel like I am raising money more for a political group than a cure for diabetes, too. Doing all of the fundraisers is so time consuming and my time is consumed with D enough as it is.

Can you tell I'm a little grumpy today :rolleyes:

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

I have very mixed feeling about JDRF and have chosen not to participate in the Walks. Any money we donate goes to Dr Faustman to support her research. :D

[Tena]

We did a JDRF walk right after dx. We were really hyped up about it. I think we raised 1100.00 in 2 months. We were so proud of ourselves.

BUT...now I can't hardly get myself to fundraise for it because we are really struggling financially. It's not that I don't want to help find a cure, but if I am going to do a fundraiser for something, at this point, it would be for funds to pay for Emily's daily needs. With this economy and loss of overtime we can barely meet the monthly expenses of D care.

Anyway, my two cents for what its worth.

[frizzyrazzy]

Have you ever chosen not to do the annual diabetes walk? I just can't seem to get myself psyched up for the walk this year. I'm just tired of doing it, because it means another year of D. Now, I know every year brings us closer to a cure, or at least technology that will make A's life so much better (from a D standpoint), and that is the reason that will get me motivated, but I definitely have walk fatigue.

Anyone else ever feel the same?
I'm totally in walk burnout this year. I think we'll probably walk. but I won't be busting butt to fund raise, not for jdrf , this year. I enjoy the "walk" aspect, and we have a big cookout after...but honestly...I just don't feel like doing the whole money thing. I dont' think jdrf is one iota closer to a cure than they were 4 years ago - however - we get a lot of support from them during the year with the coffee's they put on so I don't mind raising money for them. the next time I do a BIG fundraiser it will be for Denise Faustman.

[Kalebsmom]

We also did it the first year but did not do it in March. I was planning on it and did raise a very small amount, but I just turned it in to JDRF and didn't have the energy to do the walk.

[BeerMargaritaMom]

my family did the walk the first with D, then last year we were out of town, this year we are doing the walk and we have been more aggressive with fundraising this year but I am getting a little irritated with our JDRF because every day it seems they are asking something new of me. I am getting burned out before I actually do one thing. Before I am able to start one project for JDRF they are asking me to take on another, then another, then another. I have finally started to say no - and now I have guilt.

I am currently the person that is supposed to go to the schools in my school district and present the "Walk Central" stuff - where the kids sell the paper shoes to raise money.
I am also suppoesd to go to local businesses and ask them to sell the paper shoes like you see at Marshells.
Then they asked me to co-chair the silent auction at the Hope Ball. (A ball so expensive that I could never afford to go to) That I said no to - I mean they were talking a large number of hours every week from Sept through May.
They did put my sons picture on the advertisment fot the Wendy's frosties and that was neat. Marcus feels like a star.
Now they want Amber and Marcus to say some lines in a video that will be used to try to get corporate sponsers. My daughter wants to do it but my son doesn't and I don't want to force him.

Perhaps if you want to fundraise but don't want to do the walk you could host a fundraiser party.
I hosted one on my own without telling the JDRF back in March. I just invited a couple JDRF staff after I planned the party.
It was a "Let's Kick the Bunco out of Diabetes" party. I charged $10 for each guest to play and provided light snacks and wine. All the money was donated to the JDRF - no payout for the Bunco winners. I did ask business's for prizes and recieved things like, free bagels, free movies, free chic-fil-a, $10 to half priced books, etc. All my lady friends had a blast and I raised over $400 for the JDRF. It was nice just handing the check over after having a really fun party.

I would love to host one to benefit CWD or DRI in the future so maybe next April or March. If you want more info on how I organized the party send me a private message.
good luck

[sisterbeth43]

We did the walk the first 2 yrs after the dxs. The next year my hubby had a stroke shortly before fundraising started for the walk and I was just too stressed out. The next year our team joined with the Perkins Restaurant team (Reann worked there), but after that, trying to raise 2 teens on my own and working 2 part time jobs and a hubby in a NH, I just couldn't do it anymore. Felt guilty at first, then I realized I had to take care of myself so Icould be there for those 2 teen girls and their older sisters.

[Beach bum]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I was feeling guilty, but after reading the posts, I'm not feeling as guilty. I think my main concern is that our JDRF has just seemed to have fallen apart, there's really no staff except for one gal, who is trying. The last person there just really rubbed me the wrong way, made all these plans for parent outreach that I was going to participate in, and she never followed through. Then she left. She let her personal problems interfer with the job way too much. She also found out that I once made a comment here that I was thinking of putting my money towards fundraising efforts somewhere else, and she basically told me, they all come back to JDRF in the end. Yeah right honey. My money goes where I want it to go!

So as you can see, she rubbed me the wrong way and it still is bothering me. At least she's gone now, but they really need to impress me to get my trust back.

I guess I will let A decide, as this is for her.

[andeefig]

We're totally burnt out this year, too. DH and I were just talking about this yeasterday. I was surprised that we raised the almost 10K we did last year with the economy and I just can't bring myself to ask people again. It's tiring. We'll probably still walk because it's a nice day and we like the cookout that we have after it, but that'll probably be it. I'm too pooped this year.

[Noel]

We are so in "walk burnout" mode here too. Our walk is in October and all of my boys (DH and DS's) ALWAYS have soccer games the same day. It just makes the whole day really long and really hectic.

This year we are going to do the Tour de Cure instead, all of the boys are into biking as well as most others in our family. Every year they do a bike ride for ALS so we are already in ride mode. The Tour de Cure is in the late spring so for us the timing is better.

[2type1s]

I have had years of walk burnout, and years that I've been gung-ho. This year I'm doing a big campaign again, since it's Morgan's 10 year anniversary. Our local JDRF chapter has lots of activities for kids, and the walk is an AWESOME day with lots of great food, concert and kids activities. It's just a fun, family day. We have already raised a lot this year, 3 times as much as last year. I do other things to raise money depending on what's going on in my life. 2 years ago we raised money for families in our community for children with medical issues that couldn't pay bills, I've raised money for cancer research when friends kids were diagnosed, I have done the Tour de Cure for diabetes, and the Zoo run for ADA. I too get tired of asking people for money, but after spending a lot of time and money (and not to mention running/biking my a$% off for 4 years) on other diagnoses, I'm ready to be more proactive in finding a cure. I think JDRF gives a "face" to juvenile diabetes through the Children's Congress, and increases awareness in our community through the events...even the expensive gala I can't afford to go to. Maybe next year I'll raise money for Faustman! I also sign my daughters up for every research study available at Vanderbilt.....it takes some time, but it doesn't cost me anything (in fact many times the girls are paid!). Maybe you could do something like that? It's still helping with a cure...but it a different way!

[cem]

I confess - I just didn't want to do it this year. Tired, overwhelmed and just have enough of my life devoted to diabetes without adding the walk. My mother offered to captain our team which was great, but truthfully it hasn't been a real break for me at all as I had to help with everything. I think our team is going to be an every other year team, if I can bear the guilt!