More than $9,000 was raised last year when two area youths helped organize Missouri's first American Diabetes Association School Walk For Diabetes in Cape Girardeau County.

This time around, Majhon Phillips hopes to see the event grow.

"I'd like to see us raise $10,000 or more this year," said the St. Paul Lutheran School seventh-grader. "I'm just hoping to continue things this year."

A year ago Phillips and Justin Gibbs organized the walk, which drew a considerable amount of exposure. Phillips hopes this year's walk will also give increased attention to diabetes research and care.

"It helps inform people about diabetes and the need for research," Phillips said. "It also lets kids in our area get together and create a lot of positive effects. I want everybody that comes to have a lot of fun."

Diabetes is broken into two types. Individuals with Type 1, sometimes called juvenile diabetes, requires insulin. It is more common among children but can affect anyone. Those with Type 2 can generally control it by diet and exercise.

More than 16 million Americans have the disease some 5 million of which are not even aware of it. Yet, while the death rate has gone up 30 percent since 1981, funding for diabetes research has dropped 31 percent. Of the $40 billion spent on diabetes in 1999, only $1 billion went into research.

Money raised from the walk will largely go to research. It will also help support other such programs, as well as camps for children with the disease

The walk will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Cape County Park North. Registration, in the first pavilion, will begin at 8 a.m.

Students who take part should turn money in by Friday.

Those interested should contact Phillips for details, at 243-0701. She expects more than 300 youths to take part.

MIX 104.7 radio will broadcast live, and gifts such as head sets and lava lamps will be given out. Movie tickets, meals and more will be raffled off.

"Majhon has just done an awesome job," said Leisa Osiecki, district manager for the American Diabetes Association. "It's unbelievable. She's created a great amount of awareness among kids down there."

Osiecki also noted that Phillips' idea of soliciting prizes to give away at the event was "totally her thing."

The event will also feature notables such as Jackson's Chrissy Icaza, Miss Tri-Counties; and Phillips, who is Miss Pre-Teen Missouri, as well as the current Miss Show Me State Teen and Miss Central Missouri State Teen.

Local businesses donating to the undertaking include Prompt Care, Style Stop Impact, The Maid Solution, MIX 104.7, Country Mart, REMAX, Sun Studios, Wehrenberg Theaters, Steak and Shake, Camelot Music, Waldenbooks, Gospeland, Target, Radio Shack, Cape Bicycle, Maurices, Disc jockey, Trisha's Bed and Breakfast, Wal-Mart, Albertson's and Jackson Skate Center.

"There will be a lot of things going on besides the walk," Phillips said. "I think it will be a lot of fun."

Information on diabetes may be obtained by calling the ADA at 1-800-238-3590.