Nor Did She Call Them “Fudgy Pickaninny Squares” although It's Clear She Wanted To

SAVANNAH, GA—Celebrity chef and restaurateur Paula Deen announced Monday that her recently launched Step for a Cure Foundation would host its first annual .05K fun walk on May 20 to raise money for Type 2 diabetes research.

The star of the Food Network shows Paula's Home Cooking and Paula's Best Dishes said the .031-mile course would cover a half block of Whitaker Street in Savannah's Historic District and would be open to walkers of all skill levels.

…“I want to show people that just because you're diabetic doesn't mean you can't get out there and move around a little,” Deen added.

Deen, who has suffered from the disorder since 2009 but only recently revealed her diagnosis while endorsing a diabetes drug for a pharmaceutical manufacturer, told reporters she had begun an exhausting training regimen to prepare for the 164-foot event, walking slowly on a treadmill for up to 15 seconds each day.

According to the food media mogul who made a name for herself by drinking straight liquid butter on television, the .05K should take about an hour to complete and will provide a fun family atmosphere, with a band playing at the halfway point and walkers at the starting line being cheered on by spectators at the nearby finish line.

In addition, Deen assured participants the walking route would include 32 water and aid stations, which will serve deep-fried, melt-in-your-mouth garlic cheese biscuits “just in case anybody gets the butter tingles.”

…“I'm sure I'll stop and rest part way and take a 20-minute breather myself,” Deen added. “It's easy to lose steam once you hit that wall around step 72.”

…“We're asking folks to give whatever they can to help out, because if there's a more urgent cause than finding a cure for adult-onset diabetes, I sure as heck don't know what it is,” said Deen, explaining that part of the fun-walk proceeds would be used to purchase insulin so those afflicted with the disease can continue eating as many “yummy treats” as they desire. “Ain't it just the worst?”

“Believe me, honey, I know how sad it is to say ‘no thank you’ to that second pan of brownies…," Deen continued.

Deen in no way referred to “brownies” as “darkies” as originally reported. Deen says and wants everyone to understand, she knows that even when modified with the adjective “scrumptious,” the d-word is inappropriate in situations in which those people can hear you.

The Truth regrets the error.