Nick Jonas to be National Chair of JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes

NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nick Jonas, one third of the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum group the Jonas Brothers, was announced today as the National Chair of JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Nick Jonas, 17, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13 years old.  He becomes the key figure for the largest fundraising program for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In this role, Nick will help JDRF increase participation and fundraising in its annual Walks, held in more than 200 locations worldwide.  Nearly 500,000 people took part in JDRF Walks last year, raising some $75 million.  As the National Chair, Nick will attend events to support fundraising efforts as well as take part in promotional videos and television public service announcements for JDRF.

"As a person living day to day with diabetes and recognizing the tremendous contribution the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has done for our community, I couldn't be more honored to serve as the National Chair for the Walk to Cure Diabetes," says Nick Jonas.

"Having Nick Jonas as National Chair will go far towards raising awareness of type 1 diabetes, and what needs to be done to find a cure. Nick has been a wonderful role model for kids and adults with diabetes, and has been invaluable in bringing visibility to efforts to cure this disease," said Leo Mullin, Chairman of Board of Directors for JDRF.  "We have seen the impact he has firsthand, when he demonstrated his commitment to support diabetes research through the Jonas Brothers' Change for the Children Foundation, and when he testified in Congress for JDRF on the need for continued federal funding for research."

In addition, Nick has helped raise diabetes awareness through his partnership with Bayer Diabetes Care.  Last month, Bayer and Nick Jonas announced a new contest called "Give Back. Simply Win." that encourages people with diabetes to share their stories about giving back, and rewards them for their charitable efforts.  For more information on this contest, please visit www.nickssimplewins.com.

Nick succeeds actor and celebrity advocate Kevin Kline, who was National Chair of JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes for the past four years.

About type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, debilitating disease affecting every organ system that strike children and adults suddenly, and lasts a lifetime.  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food.  People with type 1 diabetes must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continuous infusion of insulin through a pump just to survive.  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, and stroke.  Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is often diagnosed in adulthood in which a person's body still produces insulin but is unable to use it effectively.  There are approximately 3 million Americans living with type 1 diabetes, and more than 30,000 children and adults are diagnosed every year.

About JDRF

JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.4 billion to diabetes research, including more than $100 million in FY2009.

To register now and participate, sponsor the event, build a Walk team, or for more information please visit http://walk.jdrf.org or call (800) 533-CURE.

About Bayer Diabetes Care

Bayer Diabetes Care is a worldwide leader in diabetes care, supporting customers in 100

countries and, for more than 40 years, has led the way in diabetes care product innovation. Today, Bayer Diabetes Care offers an unparalleled choice in diabetes management systems and comprehensive support including education, tools and resources designed to simplify life with diabetes. Bayer Diabetes Care is a business of the Bayer HealthCare LLC, Medical Care Division and has its global headquarters located in Tarrytown, New York. www.simplewins.com.

SOURCE Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation