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[] helped raise an estimated $60 million for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through his annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes that began in 1979.
 * __Ron Santo__**

Ron Santo enjoyed recounting a tense at-bat in the ninth inning with the bases loaded when his diabetes suddenly caused his blood sugar to plummet. That meant he was seeing not one, but three, fastballs coming at him. "I hit that middle ball for a grand slam," he'd say. The Cubs legend, however, did lose his share of battles with the disease, including when doctors had to amputate both his legs below the knee in the last decade of his life. That lengthy, grueling struggle meant that, of all his fans, few admired him as intensely as those living with diabetes or searching for a cure. Advertisement Santo was arguably the most prominent Chicagoan with the disease and helped raise an estimated $60 million for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through his annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes that began in 1979. "But it's impossible to gauge how much other support has come our way from people who were inspired from knowing Ron's story," said Patrick Reedy, executive director of the foundation's Illinois chapter. "He wanted to make sure that all the challenges he faced in 50 years living with diabetes was not the same experience that a child diagnosed today would have," Reedy added. Santo learned he had the disease during a routine physical after signing his first professional contract with the Cubs at age 18. Fearful that the team wouldn't keep him if it knew, Santo kept the diagnosis secret for years. After going public, Santo poured himself into sharing his story. A 1972 Tribune article describes Santo participating in a summer camp at Lake Geneva, Wis., for children with diabetes. Santo signed autographs and told of living with the disease. "We're no different than anyone else, except we take a shot in the morning," Santo told the children. More recently, Santo's fight against the disease was a centerpiece of "This Old Cub," a documentary created by his son, Jeff. The film, in turn, inspired a former Elgin resident and longtime Santo fan to organize a 2,100-mile walk from Arizona to Chicago as a fundraiser. As word of Santo's death circulated Friday, some fans on Twitter urged each other to donate $10 to the diabetes foundation in honor of Santo's uniform number. The Harry Caray's chain of restaurants said it would donate all proceeds from desserts sold through Sunday to the foundation, noting that the "desserts" category includes fruit and other items without sugar.