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Holt Sears and Grace Anne Creasy, 9 years old and best friends, have a lot in common. They like the Jonas Brothers, swimming and chatting on the phone.

They also both have juvenile, or Type 1, diabetes.

For years their families have helped to raise money for research into the disease.

Their mothers, Alyson Sears and Annette Creasy, want a cure.

"This is something we're both passionate about," Sears said. "I feel certain that within their lifetime and our lifetime, there will be a cure."

This year, the families are having a chili dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Gibsonville United Methodist Church.

Proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Cake and pie also will be served.

"It's good incentive. They don't have to cook dinner, and it goes to a good cause," Sears said.

There is no set donation cost. The chili also can be picked up for take-out.

On Oct. 18, the families and their friends will participate in the JDRF Walk to a Cure event in Elon.

Holt and Grace Anne said they enjoy walking in the event each year.

"They have snacks and ice cream and stuff," Holt said.

Holt and Grace Anne were diagnosed with diabetes at ages 2 and 5.

A person with Type 1 diabetes doesn't produce any insulin. Without that hormone, glucose builds up and causes high blood sugar.

Like many children with diabetes, Holt and Grace Anne wear insulin pumps.

With the injections of insulin, they usually can have sweets and any other type of food. But before each meal, they or their parents must check their glucose levels with a pinprick on the finger. Then they must enter information into the pump's computer, including the number of carbohydrates estimated to be in their meal.

The girls wear the small computers, about the size of a PDF, in pouches hidden under their shirts.

Holt said she wants a cure for diabetes "so we don't have to wear pumps anymore."

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at 449-4610 or jamie.kennedy@news-record.com