Lawton Poole was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two, and since then, it has been a part of her daily life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leads to a lack of insulin, which is needed to regulate blood sugar levels.
While it can occur at any age, it's often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence and is known as juvenile diabetes.
Poole started looking for a way to help fight against the disease.
“I started Lawton's March in the sixth grade as a way to raise money and awareness for type 1 diabetes, a cause that is incredibly personal to me,” Poole said. “Each year, this fundraiser continues to grow, helping to raise crucial funds for research and support, while also spreading awareness about this critical disease.”
Poole described the march as a fun run and color run for Washington School that brings students and staff together for a day of fun, fitness, and community support.
“Lawton's March means the world to me,” Poole said. “I’m proud of the difference we’ve made together in the fight against type 1 diabetes.”
Gay Smith, Development Director for Washington School, and organizer of this year’s March, said this year was different because it is Poole’s senior year.
“We wanted to kind of go out with a bang,” Smith said. “We hired a company called Boosterthon, and they helped us a little bit, and we involved the whole entire school. In years past, I just kind of raised money on a much smaller scale by selling t-shirts.”
Smith said this year’s new approach made a big difference.
The company helped set up an online fundraising platform where students could share links and earn prizes based on how much money they raised.
“Anytime you entice a child to raise money with some type of prize, that encourages them to raise even more money,” Smith said. “In just two weeks, students raised about $48,000.”
Smith said all of those funds will go to the Mississippi Diabetes Foundation.
Poole said she was amazed at the amount raised.
“It’s incredible that $48,000 was raised this year alone,” Poole said. “It really shows how powerful the community is when it comes together.”
Poole will be attending Mississippi State University in the fall and is planning on majoring in business.
“I’m really interested in going into sales, possibly medical sales, since I have a personal connection to that field,” Poole said. “I’m excited to see where that path takes me.”
While she won’t be continuing Lawton’s March in the same way once she graduates, Poole said she plans to keep raising awareness and supporting the cause each year.
“The run was such a meaningful high school experience," Poole said. “It was truly a great way to close that chapter of my life.”
Smith said the future of Lawton’s March at the school has not been discussed yet, but the spirit behind it will continue.
“At Washington School, we are a very caring and giving school,” Smith said. “Our students are very service-oriented, and they understand service above self.”
