As the weather warms up, one Oxford Schools Early College (OSEC) program student is hoping to make an impact on a disorder which currently affects approximately 1.25 million American children and adults – Type 2 diabetes.

Walker Kennedy, a fifth-year student of the OSEC program, is inviting the community to his golf outing, “Driving Fore Diabetes,” on Saturday, May 5 at Devil’s Ridge Golf Club (3700 Metamora Rd.) in Oxford.

Ticket prices are $90 per person or $340 for a team of four.

Included in the cost of each regular ticket are an 18-hole scramble, a golf cart, lunch, access to the driving range, and a buffet dinner. The event will include awards and contests, along with a cash bar.

Guests may also register for dinner only for the cost of $25 per person.

Kennedy is organizing the event as part of his OSEC capstone project. He said he felt inspired to use the project as an opportunity to contribute towards something which was meaningful to him.

For Kennedy, this meant raising money to benefit children with Type 1 diabetes– a disorder which his 9-year old cousin, Oxford resident Alivia P’simer was diagnosed with one year ago.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the pancreas stops producing insulin– a hormone the body needs to get energy from food.

“It was tough. Seeing Alivia and my aunt and uncle go through it and watching them have to make so many life adjustments just to deal with the problem. It touched me and I wanted to help,” said Kennedy. “There’s no cure for it currently and one of the biggest problems is that insulin is very expensive and can be hard on their family. I wanted to raise awareness for the disorder and support my cousin.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes have medical expenditures approximately 2.3 times higher on average than what they would be in the absence of diabetes.

Kennedy said he’s hoping to help make life easier for children, like his cousin.

Proceeds raised through the golf outing will go towards the charitable organization Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and will help send children with type 1 diabetes to Midicha Diabetes Camp, which offers activities for children and teenagers with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and which teaches them to better manage their diabetes.

“We want to raise as much money as we can and make as big of a difference as we can,” Kennedy added.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. Participants and sponsors must register by Friday, April 20. For more information, contact Kennedy at (248) 420-2876 or at WalkerCapstone@gmail.com.