LOCAL WOMAN WINS DIABETES FOUNDATION’S “CAR FOR A CURE” GIVEAWAY

Columbus– One ticket was all that it took to make Joann Walk-Ferguson the lucky recipient of a 2007 Honda Civic, because Thursday, Sept. 6 was the day when she won the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi’s “Car for a Cure” giveaway.

Walk-Ferguson became the 21st winner of the giveaway as she drove home to Columbus in her new car, courtesy of Patty Peck Honda in Ridgeland.

I got no sleep last night,” she said excitedly about the phone call she received on Thursday night notifying her that she’d won. “I was up until 3 and then up again at 5, and I just couldn’t steady my legs. I was in complete shock.”

Walk-Ferguson and her husband Howard Ferguson have lived in Columbus more than 25 years. Together they share ownership of two General Nutrition stores. They have five children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Both also have diabetes.

“Howard has had diabetes for seven years, and I’ve had diabetes for about nine years,” Walk-Ferguson said. “But we watch what we eat and exercise. We try to do right, but we’re not always perfect,” she said. But diabetes is something that, nonetheless, they take very seriously.

My mom died with diabetes,” Walk-Ferguson said.  “I also have an older sister with diabetes, so I have a very strong background of diabetes. My sister is on dialysis, living from day to day, and I don’t want to ever be in my sister’s position.”

Taking care of herself and helping her husband take care of his diabetes, Walk-Ferguson felt compelled to enter the “Car for a Cure” giveaway, because she believed in raising diabetes awareness and helping people like herself who live with diabetes.

For years, Walk-Ferguson has been entering the giveaway, she said.

I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if I won?’ Then I did, and I am so excited. I can’t believe it,” she said with a big smile.

Even though she said she wouldn’t call herself “die hard,” per se, Walk-Ferguson and her husband will be traveling to Mississippi State University sporting events in style, that is when they aren’t carting their grandchildren and great-grandchildren around in the new car.

We’re going to keep this car for a long time,” she said. “God has blessed us immensely.”

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (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 our children to our seniors– who live with diabetes.

Walk in Mississippi’s Walk for Diabetes in Columbus on Sunday, Nov. 4 with the Ferguson family. To learn more about the walk and how to participate, please call 1-877-DFM-CURE or visit the Web site, www.msdiabetes.org.

Walk for someone you love who has diabetes,” she said. “See you at the starting line!”