Event organizers are “shooting for the stars” in their bid toraise $15,000 for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi during awalking event at Exchange Club Park Oct. 30.

Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. with the start ofthe one-mile walk scheduled for 10 a.m.

“I know some will walk more than that, but if you don’t want towalk the whole thing you don’t have to,” said Crystal Lewis, anevent organizer with the Diabetes Foundation.

A minimum donation is required to participate, but teams arenot, she said.

“Individual walkers can participate. They don’t have to be on ateam,” Lewis said.

Lewis estimated organizers have raised approximately $5,000 fromcorporate sponsorships and a few private donations, but said theyhave a long way to go to meet their goals.

“We’d like to raise about $15,000,” she said. “We’re shootingfor the stars.”

The funds raised during the event will stay in Mississippi tohelp people with diabetes, she said.

The Diabetes Foundation offers several programs to help adultsand children with diabetes in Mississippi.

Helping Hands is program that provides one-time aid to purchasediabetic supplies for people without Medicare, Medicaid or privateinsurance. Camp Kandu provides an educational weekend retreat forchildren with diabetes and their family. Not A Sweet Subject is aschool program to educate faculties on how to treat a child withdiabetes in the classroom.

All three programs have been used in the Lincoln County area,Lewis said.

The event will not be postponed because of rain, Lewis said, butwill meet under the pavilion and make a determination at that timeon whether or not to proceed with the actual walk.