With 40 participants in the recent Walk to Cure Diabetes, Dobie High School students, faculty and staff raised more than $2,000 to fund research for the disease.

Math teacher and academic decathlon coach Brad Rampp sponsored the team and said it was a great way to get the students involved in community service as well as increase academic success.

“Students always feel good about themselves when they participate in community service events,” Rampp said. “Students who are involved at school make better grades, have better attendance and they start enjoying school more.”

Dobie has participated in this event for several years, raising around $4,000 each year. Students sold Walk to Cure Diabetes stickers, buttons and bracelets as well as encouraged others to make personal donations.

“Even though I had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning to participate in the walk, it was good to know that I was not only doing something good for myself, but that I’m also helping to fight a disease that has become so widespread among youth,” said junior Stephanie Smith.

Rampp said he has several family members who have diabetes, so it’s important for him to work toward a cure for the disease.

“I hope my students learned about diabetes and how to prevent it, and I hope they learned community service and charity are great things to be involved in,” he said. “It feels great to see your students work hard at a task and take away a lasting memory from the experience.”