Photo Gallery (images by Meghan Bushnell)

San Francisco, CA -- In the heart of San Francisco and just a few blocks from Academy of Art University's downtown hub this past Friday, student-athletes and members of the ART U Athletic Department donated their time at the Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. The Urban Knights spent the day helping volunteer in various capacities at this special event.

The event was put on by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the only non-profit organization supporting all 25.8 million Americans living with diabetes. Founded in 1940, the mission of the Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by the disease.

Academy of Art staff assisted with walker registration, interacted with youngsters in the Kid Zone, and provided support for the event which rose over $116,000 for diabetes research and services. One group of Knights, composed of ART U women's volleyball and men's and women's track athletes, arrived early for setup and more teams stayed later for the post-walk clean up.
  Working with event coordinators, student-athletes from ART U men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's track, and baseball teams all lent a helping hand. Walkers participating began at the Justin Herman Plaza on 1 Market Street across from the Ferry Building and made their way along the Embarcadero towards Pier 39.

"Stop Diabetes" is an ADA movement to end the devastating toll that diabetes takes on millions of individuals and families across the United States. It inspires and mobilizes the general public, volunteers, donors, corporations and the scientific and medical communities to rally around a cause and call to "share, act, learn and give."