On Oct. 27 more than 6,000 people participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes, raising more than $1.2 million. The proceeds raised go toward research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications.

Among that group was four local middle school students, two of which have diabetes themselves.

Shelby Dowdy and Ashley Ely, seventh graders at Coosa Middle School, both have Juvenile Diabetes.

The girls decided to form a team called Shelby’s Saints. The team included Brittani and Susanne McGinnis, home schooled sixth and seventh graders and Sydney Arthur, a fifth grader at Darlington Middle School.

Together the girls raised $1,333 for the cause.

“This shows what a huge difference we can make by working together,” said Corporate Recruitment Chairman Monye Connolly, president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. “There are an estimated 400,000 Georgians who have diabetes. Walks like this are funding research to speed the search for a cure.”

The energetic and enthusiastic walkers began the three mile walk at 9:30 a.m. at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The walk was followed by food, music and children’s activities.

JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with type 1 diabetes and has provided more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research worldwide.