HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT An organization called Tough Enough to Wear Pink collected $405 for Nathan Adelson Hospice and presented a check at Tuesday's town board meeting. The Glory Riders, atop their palominos and all wearing pink, performed during this year's Fall Festival during the PRCA Rodeo. Advertisement

Diabetes Walkathon

Walk for Awareness, to benefit local families affected by diabetes, begins at 8 a.m., Nov. 21 at Petrack Park in conjunction with the Pahrump Powwow.

Organizer Dee Painter told residents at Tuesday's town board meeting, "We are going to have such a great time. We're going to honor our Native American veterans, and the DAV is participating."

According to Painter, the walkathon is the first such event for diabetes in Pahrump. She said there are more than three dozen families in Nye County dealing with Type 1 diabetes every day.

"Diabetes is the number one killer within the Native American community and it affects more than 8 percent of Nevada families," said Painter. "The Nevada Diabetes Association is the only organization in Nevada that provides direct services to children and adults as well as support for families dealing with the disease in Nevada."

Entry fee for the walk is $5 per person. Money collected will be used for the NDA Camps for Kids programs. For more information, contact Painter at 751-1529 or dee@swspecialdees.com.

"We want to raise awareness of this crisis and will be establishing the first diabetic family support group in Pahrump Valley. Right now, local families must travel to Las Vegas to join this kind of group, but soon support will be available right here."

Painter said the family support group will provide a helpful environment for parents and children to learn about managing their diabetes. There will be monthly guest speakers, youth activities, special events and parties. "The group will embrace families with members that have Type I and Type II diabetes," said Painter.

The Nevada Diabetes Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with any national diabetes organization. All funds raised by the NDA are used to provide local services.

Kudos for patches

Butch Harper brought more letters of appreciation from hospitals where his framed collage of military, police and first responder patches, gathered from residents of Pahrump and elsewhere, is being displayed.

Heartfelt thanks came from National Director of Major Gifts Jon Dellaria Jr., who wrote, "The collage is a wonderful celebration of the work that these heroes do. It is clear that you have put a great deal of time, energy and love into this project and we are proud to accept and display it."