More than 6,000 area walkers, wearing everything from T-shirts to Star Wars' storm trooper costumes, raised more than $910,000 for juvenile diabetes research Saturday.

The annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure took place at Paramount's Kings Island in Mason and at the World Peace Bell in Newport.

Some walkers, like West Chester's Larry Morgan and his daughter Casey, wore baseball caps with "Casey's Cruisers" on them in honor of the 5-year-old who has diabetes.

This year's combined attendance at both sites was a record for the annual fund-raiser, organizers said.

Similar walkathons are held in more than 200 locations throughout the year, raising more than $74 million nationwide. This year's national goal is $80 million.

Hospital plans more liver transplant study

AVONDALE - Coming off a record-breaking year, doctors with University Hospital's liver transplant program are looking to expand on their success by investing in clinical research.

That's what Dr. Steven Rudich, the program's surgical director, told a crowd of about 100 liver transplant patients and hospital personnel who attended University Hospital's first liver transplant symposium Saturday. The half-day seminar was at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Since Rudich came here as surgical director nearly two years ago, he has turned the hospital's liver transplant program into the most productive in the state. Doctors performed 84 liver transplants on 83 patients last year (one patient needed two transplants) - four times the number done in 2002 and the most since the program started in 1986.

But if the department hopes to achieve its goal of ranking among the top five in the country, Rudich says the hospital must invest more in its clinical research programs.

Breast cancer alliance turns 10

The Breast Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati started 10 years ago with a handful of people concerned about the high rate of women suffering from the deadly disease in the region.

The alliance celebrated its 10th anniversary Saturday by filling the Presidential Ballroom at the Westin Hotelwith about 200 participants for its annual seminar and luncheon. The group has come a long way, yet the day was about the same principles that have guided it all along: education, inspiration and celebration of breast-cancer survivorship.

Dr. Marisa Weiss, a Philadelphia physician who has written the book Living Beyond Breast Cancer and founded breastcancer.org, gave a keynote address about the patient-doctor relationship.

Weiss said good communication with a doctor is important. Patients also need to take an active role, she said, by being honest, keeping an open mind and listening.