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Burke Students 'Go Blue' For Diabetes Awareness

GOSHEN, N.Y.  – When members of John S. Burke Catholic High School’s newly formed Key Club heard that November is Diabetes Awareness Month, they wanted to do something to show support for their fellow students coping daily with the disease. 

Students from Burke Catholic dressed in blue during Saturday's football game in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month.

Students from Burke Catholic dressed in blue during Saturday's football game in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Since Burke Catholic quarterback Heath Hoovler suffers from diabetes, turning the student section blue for the state quarterfinals game against Albertus Magnus High School seemed like the perfect thing to do. 

“We decided to encourage the student section to go blue for diabetes awareness,” Key Club President Sarina Howe said. “It was a great way to visibly show support for Heath and all other people suffering with diabetes both in our school and around the world.”

Not only did the students in the stands dress in blue, they also wore blue glow bracelets since the game took place on Saturday evening under the lights at Dietz Stadium in Kingston. The cheerleaders and many parents took part in the “Go Blue for Diabetes” awareness effort as well.

“It was awesome to see people support diabetes," Hoovler said of the blue turnout. "People think there’s only one type and that’s Type 2, but there are also a lot of people with Type 1, so the more people understand the better off everyone is.”  

The Key Club also hung awareness posters along the walls of Burke Catholic’s halls with facts about Type 1 Diabetes to raise awareness. And a petition was circulated encouraging students to avoid eating added sugar in observance of Nov. 14 as World Diabetes Day. 

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