The month of November is Diabetes Awareness Month and on Oct. 19, the Step Out Walk to stop diabetes took place at Schlitz Park on a cool and breezy Saturday morning. MATC representatives, Student Life coordinators Catherine Lechmaier (Oak Creek) and Rita Wood (Mequon); Rebecca Lechmaier, Oak Creek Campus Student Government representative; and Karen Vogel, Mequon Campus Student Government representative; and the rest of their team walked on behalf of the campuses’ student governments. “I am very honored to walk for our school,” said  Catherine Lechmaier.
They participated in the walk not only for the college, but for friends and families struggling with the disease. They joined over 11,000 people in the walk. Catherine  Lechmaier believes that their involvement in the walk will influence more members of the MATC community to come and help out and create more of an awareness of this disease. Vogel mentioned, “We would like to set up tables at Oak Creek and Mequon to spread the word on diabetes and how students can get involved.”
“Diabetes is a scary disease that can affect us in many ways,” said Rebecca Lechmaier, who noted another health concern which is the leading cause of diabetes, obesity. She also mentioned that people in the Midwest are at a huge risk of contracting the disease. “I think it’s a really good thing that more people become aware, especially as students get older,” said Rebecca Leichmaier, “I think it’s something that we can get people aware of and it can be a very good thing.”
All four representatives wish that participating in the Step Out Walk becomes an annual event for the college. Their actions show that MATC does care for the community. “We are out there to help not only our school but the people in the community,” said Rebecca Lechmaier.
Whether it is cleaning up a neighborhood or walking to donate money to find a cure for a deadly disease, MATC does care in helping others who need it most.