624th ASTS helps raise funds for diabetes prevention, cure Published July 3, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Keith 624th Regional Support Group Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII -- In support of the American Diabetes Association (ADA)-Hawaii Chapter, members of the 624th Aeromedical Staging Squadron here volunteered their time at the 8th Annual Live Kokua Community Walk at the Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu, Hawaii, Saturday, June 28, 2014. Banding together to help with set up, crowd control, and cheering at the finish line were medical service corps officers Maj. Richard Yenke and Capt. Catherine Van Meerten; superintendent of force health management Senior Master Sgt. Patricia Kawa'a; management assistant for health services Master Sgt. Tony Nemoto; medical laboratory journeyman Tech. Sgt. Miriam Berg; and medical technicians Tech. Sgt. Louise Sarabosing and Senior Airman Christopher Mendoza, as well as a family member. Nemoto, who coordinated the volunteer effort, said, "We try to do one volunteer event per month. It's good for morale." He said he makes sure all of the ranks--from officer to junior enlisted--are represented at each event. Lawrence Duenas, associate director for ADA, thanked the unit members for their outstanding volunteerism. He said because of citizen airmen like the 624th ASTS and other volunteers, ADA was able to raise $28,000 to fund research for a cure for diabetes, provide programs and services for patients and their families with diabetes, and educate healthcare professionals who provide care. A total of $112,280 in donations was raised for the American Diabetes Association-Hawaii Chapter, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Helping Hands Hawaii and Make-A-Wish Hawaii. The Bank of Hawaii started the annual community walk in 2007 to support local nonprofit organizations who lack resources to hold a walk of their own.