LOCAL MAN’S LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH DIABETES FOUNDATION’S WALK FOR DIABETES

Meridian, Miss. - On Oct. 7, hundreds of people will lace up their sneakers and walk in one man’s honor.

David Majure Sr. was many things– a husband, father of three, grandfather of seven, businessman, sportsman and lover of life– and even after his death two years ago, his legacy remains engraved in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Some will walk in remembrance of the family man who shaped their lives in ways that are as numerous as the stars in the dark Meridian sky.

Some will walk out of respect for a dear friend and active 40-year member of the community he served through his family-owned and self-started Fred’s franchise stores.

Some will walk because they refuse to let diabetes defeat them, just as Majure refused to let diabetes take over his life.

Together, all will walk to raise awareness and money for the cause of providing research, education and life-saving medical supplies to Mississippians of all ages who have diabetes.

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) will be holding its annual Walk for Diabetes in Meridian on Sunday, Oct. 7 at Bonita Lakes Park. And because of Majure’s fierce spirit for overcoming adversity, the walk will be held in his name.

“He was a tremendous fighter,” said his wife Syble Majure. “He was in denial at first when he was diagnosed. Then, he learned to embrace diabetes, and we made our life around it.”

Doctors diagnosed him with diabetes in 1972, and he lived a relatively normal life, she said. But he was very conscious of diabetes and very strict with the monitoring of his blood sugar.

Friends noticed attitude changes in him when his blood sugar was low– having a strong network of friends who were aware of his disposition was important to helping keep his diabetes under control, she said.

“And sometimes he didn’t adhere to his diet, but he had had my mom to hold him accountable,” said David Majure II, Majure’s son. “All you need is someone who can hold you accountable, and he always had a back-up plan.”

He carried crackers with him or small cans of orange juice, and he was very sensitive to not letting his sugar get too high, he said.

His wife and son’s story is about a man who lived life to its fullest in spite of having diabetes, who was fun loving and active. He enjoyed life and liked hunting, playing cards and riding his horse.

“Some people didn’t even know he had diabetes,” his son said.

“My husband worked hard and played hard,” Syble added with a laugh.

Nevertheless, diabetes is something that the Majure family has always taken very seriously.

“We are very aware that we are candidates for the disease,” he said. “This provides us with motivation to diet and exercise properly to prevent diabetes.”

“We are going to do everything to make this one of the best walks Meridian has ever seen,” he said.

This is the family’s first year participating with a team of walkers, he said.

“We are excited to build a team and educate our customers and employees,” he said.

“My husband became aware of the DFM sometime after his diagnosis, but he was really passionate about all of the money raised staying in the state to help Mississippians with diabetes,” Syble said. “Mississippi is a poor state, and I am hoping and praying for continued research and diabetestreatments. And I know that my husband would be, too.”

Too many people take diabetes for granted, and it’s a disease that should never be taken for granted, Majure said.

The fact that every penny that comes into our state stays and helps with education, medical supplies and other diabetes services really says something about the DFM, he said.

“We want to raise awareness that the DFM exists and let people know about their educational resources and screenings,” he said.

The DFM is the state’s only nonprofit health organization that provides diabetes research, information, patient services and advocacy, and its mission is to provide hope through research, programs and service to the 346,500 Mississippians with diabetes. Every dollar raised by the DFM stays in the state to support these efforts. In addition, 90 cents of every dollar raised goes towards the organization’s charitable purposes. The DFM is the one diabetes organization totally dedicated to all Mississippians– from children to seniors– who live with diabetes.

Please walk in Mississippi’s Walk for Diabetes in memory of David Majure Sr. or someone you know on Oct. 7 at Bonita Lakes Park. For a team or individual walk packet, call the DFM at 601-957-7878, or visit the DFM Web site, www.msdiabetes.org.