I received a lovely note from Luke this week. He said he regularly reads

my column and especially enjoyed the recent piece about snakes. He does not

like them either, and "is glad there are only four kinds: Big ones,

Little ones, Live ones, and Dead ones (the best kind)." He said he does

not like any of the four. I gotta love a guy like that!

The last snake column I wrote a few years back brought in hate mail from

men calling me a city slicker who did not know the worth of a good snake.

So I doubly appreciate Luke's expression of support!

With that heartfelt thanks out of the way, let me pass on information from

Bernice L. Guity, another reader who has asked for my support with the upcoming

American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 2004 America's Walk for Diabetes

in Peachtree City.

Bernice is Senior Market Director, Communications, American Diabetes Association

for Atlanta/North Georgia. She has her work cut out for her but this year

a local pharmacist is standing shoulder to shoulder with Bernice in a special

educational effort.

According to Bernice, Melissa Stephens of Sharpsburg knows all too well

the devastation diabetes can cause. As a Pharmacist Diabetes Educator with

Kroger Pharmacy in Peachtree City, Stephens works closely with patients to

provide individualized diabetes education including meal planning and grocery

store tours to help patients develop a healthy diabetes care plan.

In an effort to help find a cure for this silent killer, Stephens accepted

the role of Chairperson for the American Diabetes Association's (ADA)

2004 America's Walk for Diabetes. The Walk is set for Saturday, September

25, 2004 at Shakerag Knoll Park, 191 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City.

America's Walk for Diabetes is ADA's signature special events

fund-raising campaign. Participants register and recruit friends or co-workers

to walk and raise money then celebrate their fund raising accomplishments

the day of the event. Anyone interested in forming a walk team is asked to

please call Lauren Owens at 1-888-DIABETES x 3087 or email at [email protected] .

"Diabetes is challenging," Stephens said. "It's important

we participate in this fundraising event so we can prevent more people from

developing diabetes."

Stephens is very involved in the local community. She is a member of Christ

Our Shepherd Lutheran Church and has served on its Congregation Council and

Preschool Board. She is also involved with the American Pharmacists' Association,

Georgia Pharmacy Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators,

Alumni member of Kappa Epsilon, a pharmacy professional fraternity, and Chi

Omega, a social fraternity.

FYI: The average annual cost for diabetes care is more than $13,000 a year,

compared with only $2,500 for someone without diabetes, Stephens said, adding

that every three minutes, someone dies from diabetes. "That's 20

people in 1 hour and 500 people in 24 hours," she said. "These

are some scary numbers."

Dana Gantt, a diabetic who plans to walk in the Peachtree City Walk, said

she realized on August 30, 1998 exactly what diabetes can do when she suddenly

suffered her first heart attack from diabetes complications. She had her

second heart attack seven months later.

"Most of my friends who have diabetes are now dead," said Gantt,

who uses a blind dog and was diagnosed with diabetes at age two in 1962. "I

don't wish this on anyone. This fundraiser is very important to our

community."

If you care about the issue of diabetes and want to find out how you can

help, please call 1-888-DIABETES x 3083.

And now one more community note: The Cotton Pickin' Fair will be held

Saturday and Sunday, 8 am -5 pm, October 2 and 3 in the little town of Gay

that I now call home. Please meet me there this year! I will have an exhibit

under the Hammer Shed which is just off to your right as you enter the fair

through the north gate.

One of the things I miss most about nursing is not having the human face

to face, heart to heart contact I enjoyed with so many patients over the

18 years I was in nursing. Oddly enough, October marks the 18th year I have

now been a writer. Come share the weekend and help me celebrate!

Oh! And come early to be sure to get a sausage biscuit from the Faith Chapel

booth. It cannot be beat! Wear your most comfortable shoes and plan to stay

a while. A variety of good eats abound all day and music is ongoing! It's

a "community thing" and you will enjoy!