An 11-year-old Turlock girl has earned recognition on a major stage for her efforts to cure juvenile diabetes, cutting the ribbon to open Saturday's Walk to Cure Diabetes in Sacramento.
McKenzie Bronken, 11, is one of three million Americans with type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. She was diagnosed with the disease at age 6.
McKenzie raised a whopping $12,760 to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes this year, via a Sept. 27 drive-through barbecue fundraiser and raffle at Neto's Catering. At $15 a plate and $1 per raffle ticket, McKenzie easily surpassed her $10,000 goal.
The $12,760 was donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation during Saturday's Walk To Cure Diabetes in Sacramento. Because of her exceptional fundraising effort, McKenzie was selected to cut the ribbon at the walk's start.
McKenzie first fundraised for diabetes research a year ago, when she decided to open up a lemonade stand. McKenzie set a $1,000 fundraising goal for that lemonade stand, but thanks to incredible support from the community she raised more than $6,500.
