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Thousands In Philadelphia Walk To Help Find Cure For Diabetes

By Syma Chowdhry

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With every step, we're getting closer to a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

JDRF, formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, held its annual 5K walk at the Philadelphia Art Museum on Sunday.

8,000 people participated in this year's event.

"To help find a cure," says Matthew Cohn, "and improve lives and turn Type 1 into type none."

Cohn is on the board of international directors of JDRF. He is also the father of two daughters who suffer from Type 1 diabetes. 15-year-old Sydney and 13-year-old Mackenzie were both diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes by the age of seven.

The disease didn't run in their family.

This is their eight year participating in the walk.

"I get to help, not just myself, but all these people," says Mackenzie, "and we all band together on this common issue."

The sisters say it's a difficult disease to live with and hope researchers will soon find a cure.

"If our blood sugar gets out of range, our emotions change and is so difficult," Mackenzie says, "and sometimes our friends don't understand. How could they? They don't have it."

"Eventually, there will be a cure," says Sydney, "and right now research is being made."

Earlier this month, Harvard researchers announced a breakthrough in finding a cure.

"They've now developed islet cells that can be reproduced," says Cohn. "People call it The Holy Grail of Type 1 diabetes research cures."

JDRF helped fund that research thanks to money they get from events like this.

"JDRF right now, today, has over half-a-billion dollars on research around the world," Cohn says, "of which Harvard is one piece of that."

"We have made so much progress in my lifetime," says Mackenzie. "I hope to make even more in the future and eventually find a cure."

Sunday's event raised about $1-million. That money will go towards research to find a cure.

Click here if you missed the event, but would still like to make a donation:

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