RECOGNITION FLOWS IN FOLLOWING YOUTH WALK

Majhon Phillips and Justin Gibbs sorted laminated newspaper clippings accumulated after their May 6 diabetes youth walk. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Jackson's Youth Walk 2000 on May 6 has brought more money and awareness to diabetes research than hoped. It has also cast unexpected attention on its young organizers.

"Now we're getting recognition at a local, state and national level," said Justin Gibbs, 14, who organized the event along with Majhon Phillips, 12.

More than 200 walkers helped raised over $9,000 for diabetes research. It was the first youth walk in Missouri history and was the most successful of all the American Diabetes Association's youth or school walks in 2000.

"The American Diabetes Association wanted to do a school walk," explained Vicki Abernathy, area representative of the ADA and a diabetes sufferer herself. "It was something they were doing all over the country. I immediately thought of Majhon and Justin. They get things done."

The idea quickly grew beyond a school walk, as the two youths got involved.

"Majhon got real excited about it," Abernathy said. "Her dad is a diabetic. Justin is always excited.

"They're two of the most outstanding students I know and they ran with it."

In fact, the two are still running. The walk will be an annual Cape County event and the youths are ready for more work.

"I was amazed at the number of kids, from ages 6 to 7, all the way up to 19, who took part," Phillips said. "I was amazed that everybody who signed up for it, showed up. I was in awe.

"It was huger than I ever expected."

"Neither of them drives," Abernathy pointed out. "They got on the phone and used what means they could -- the phone and the Internet. They're not mobile, so they did a lot by word of mouth."

"We spent two to three hours a week after school, calling businesses to get door prizes," Gibbs said.

"It was not a last-minute thing," Abernathy said. "I approached them last October and they worked on it all year long."

Money from the walk went to the Youth Advocate Fund. About $5,000 from Jackson went to the national goal of $50,000. This was by far the largest for a single walk, according to Claire Rosenfeld, national youth advisor. The schools represented got 15 percent of what was raised. R.O. Hawkins Junior High received $282.66 and the Jackson Middle School about $785.

Word has gotten out about the successful walk, thanks to a new Web site at

http://www.diabetes.org/curequest/justin.asp and a mention in the July 2000 issue of "Diabetes Forecast," a national magazine for diabetes patients.

Gibbs and Phillips hope to capitalize on the new wave of publicity, to boost the cause even more.

"We know now it will be a definite annual event," Gibbs said. "There are a lot of walks held in this area, but this walk appealed to a crowd of youth that have never walked in any other walk. This area is big enough to support another walk, without pulling people away from others."

The pair were also quick to credit Josie Glueck, middle school PE teacher, as well as area merchants, for their support.