New York Sports Day

Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway Vice President and COO Bob Galterio’s daughter Cara was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 9, and the Bedford resident immediately was compelled to take action to fight the disease.

So, “Cure for Cara” was born. That was 13 years ago, and on Sunday, October 6, more than 2,500 Empire City employees, volunteers and participants gathered at Empire City at Yonkers Raceway to take action in the Walk to Cure Diabetes for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Galterio served as captain of the “Cure for Cara” team.

With the help of many volunteers and donors, JDRF is moving research from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside, translating scientific advances into longer, healthier lives for those with diabetes, moving closer to its goal…a cure for diabetes and its complications.

Approximately 2,000 walkers representing local corporations, families, schools, and other organizations participated in the Westchester County Chapter of the JDRF annual Walk to Cure Diabetes on the 6th. The fundraising goal for the chapter is to realize nearly $600,000 for research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications.

“It’s great to be partnering with JDRF and working together on such an important goal – curing a disease that kills one American every three minutes. The recent statistics are staggering and reveal that health care expenditures surrounding diabetes cost our nation more than $174 billion,” says Corporate Walk Chair, Bob Galterio, Vice President and COO of Empire City Casino. “These are the reasons we are committed to raising money for the cutting-edge research that JDRF funds. By working together, we can make a difference.”