Krispy Kreme Challenge comes to ECU

On Feb. 28, the First Annual Greenville Krispy Kreme Challenge supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) will take place right here on ECU's campus.

The challenge originated in 2004 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh as a bet between friends and has continued to be a student-operated event benefiting the N.C. Children's Hospital.

At N.C. State's challenge, the participant must run two miles from the N.C. State bell tower to Krispy Kreme located on Peace Street in Raleigh, eat a dozen donuts and then run back all in one hour. Last year the race had over 3,000 runners.

This year, ECU decided to bring the run to Greenville to raise money for JDRF and to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

"The idea isn't to copy them," said Katherine Meyer, public relations chair for Phi Sigma Pi. "It's to take a great idea and do it in Greenville as well."

Runners will start at the commuter lot on the bottom of College Hill Drive and run a one and a half mile loop to Krispy Kreme where they will attempt to eat the entire dozen, a volunteer will mark the amount actually eaten. Those who finish and eat the most donuts will win.

There will be a top overall male and female plus top male and female in each age group. The age groups are 15 or younger, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+.

This year, Phi Sigma Phi National Honor Fraternity teamed up with Ben's Buddies, the JDRF family team of Annette Peery whose son Ben has Type 1 diabetes.

"We want to increase awareness about JDRF and Type 1 diabetes and educate people on Type 1 and how it's different from Type 2," said Peery. "These kids can eat sugar like anyone else as long as they do so in moderation."

According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Type 1 diabetics do not produce insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy, and diabetics must take insulin injections multiple times a day.

In Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.

"The event is really about awareness and education," Peery said.

Phi Sigma Pi currently has a table set up in Wright Place where interested students can register for the run and learn more about Type 1 diabetes.

Registration for the event is $20 and money raised will benefit JDRF.

"We're hoping for about 100 people," Peery said. "If we can exceed that that's wonderful."

Registration and check-in begins at 7 a.m. at the ECU Commuter Lot on College Hill Drive.

For more information students can visit donutsfordiabetes.com.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.