From left: Zyannah Mallick, Sophia Guagliano, Troop Leader Emann Hamad, Julia Salassi, Dana Hamad, Lizzie Holt, and Erica Weiss. (Not pictured, Caroline Sweeney.) Photo contributed
Great Falls Girl Scout Troop 778 held a Diabetes Awareness Walk on April 11 as part of their Silver Award project. They have been working toward this event under the guidance of their Troop Leader, Emann Hamad, for over a year. Erica Weiss, one of the troop's members, has Type 1 Diabetes. The troop decided to focus on diabetes for their silver award in order to learn more about what Erica and others with diabetes cope with every day. The project brought awareness to the disease, which has affected many students in Fairfax County alone.
The girls hosted educational games, activities and a one-mile walk, as well as provided information on diabetes through fact sheets, brochures and booklets, one of which they created to place into care packages for newly diagnosed patients. Each troop member contributed to compiling the booklet about diabetes and to organizing and running the event. Approximately 75 people came out to show their support for the walk on a sunny Saturday, while enjoying live music by Brandon Diaz from Ashburn. The money raised exceeded the troop's goal and will be used to make the care packages, which will be distributed by Inova Fairfax Hospital's endocrinology department.