FULLERTON

At first, it seemed little Madeline Cannon was simply thirsty all the time. But when she woke up one morning last year suddenly so thin her clothes fell off of her, her parents knew something was definitely wrong.

Madeline, 4, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, a progressive disease caused when the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Each morning, her mother, Susan, gives her daughter insulin injections. She also checks Madeline’s blood sugar levels at 2 a.m. daily.

Cannon and hundreds of others will be walking at 9 a.m. Sunday to raise awareness of the disease and money for research at the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation’s “Walk to Cure Diabetes” at Craig Regional Park, 3300 N. State College Blvd.

This is the first time a walk will be sponsored in Fullerton. Last year, the event was held at UC Irvine, which is also hosting a walk at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Registration for the walks is 7 a.m. For information or to sign up, call (949) 553-0363.