News

Student raises $800 to support diabetes research

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman James Bolinger
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Austin Kernodle, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and plays football and basketball for his school. Recently, this active student raised nearly $800 to support diabetes research.

Austin was one person out of more than 50 Dover Air Force Base Middle School Students who participated in the 2.5 mile Diabetes walk here to raise $2,318 April 24.

"I am so proud of him," said Roxann Kernodle, Austin's mother. "I am proud of the effort he put forth, the responsibility he took and especially, the reason he did it."
Austin shows a lot of heart for a young man in eighth grade, who one day plans to become a computer engineer.

His mother says her son gets his tenacity for helping other people from his family.
"We are very involved with raising money for breast cancer research," said Mrs. Kernodle. "I think that is the reason Austin was so involved in this fundraising campaign. He just wants to help everybody."

Austin says putting forth as much effort as possible was the right thing to do and he used technology to go above and beyond.

"My family really helped me out," said Austin. "My parents have taught me to do the right thing."

Austin used the internet to get the word out to his father, who is deployed to Afghanistan, and to members of his family who are out of state.

"The American Diabetes Association has a Web site where schools register to host a fundraiser," said Kathleen Rodgers, DAFB Middle School teacher. "Once the school has registered, children can register under the school and create their own page."

Austin created his own and was able to e-mail contribution letters to his family and friends, and after they donated, he sent out thank-you letters.

Ironically, the money Austin raised will not only help strangers. Several days after participating in the Diabetes Walk, Austin found out his grandmother had been diagnosed with the disease.

This is the second year DAFB Middle School has held a diabetes-fundraising campaign.
"Two of our teachers, whose children have diabetes, started the campaign in 2006," said Ms. Rodgers. "Besides the walk, we held a poster contest with winners for every grade level and held an assembly to educate students about diabetes."

Several teachers and students spoke to the school's youth and many of the students interviewed other children who have diabetes to get information for the presentation.

"This was a great opportunity for him," said Lance Edwards, Austin's stepfather, whose father lost a leg to diabetes. "What a difference Austin has made."