Bored today? JDRF and Ismaili partnership walks will boost your spirits

If you're home alone this morning  (May 31) and looking for a mood enhancer, there are two worthwhile options.

The Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes begins at 11 a.m. at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. There's a pancake breakfast beforehand, and then hordes of people will go for a leisurely stroll through Burnaby's Central Park to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

There will be lots of families there who have members living with this disease. Even if you haven't collected any pledges, just showing up will make them feel better because they'll know there are lots of  people in the community who care.

The other great event is the25th annual World Partnership Walk, which is put on by the Aga Khan Foundation to raise money for international aid in Africa and Central Asia. Aga Khan has founded a modern  university in Tajikistan, which is bringing education to a part of the world  burdened with widespread  illiteracy and  religious fundamentalism. The foundation also funds  many other worthwhile  education and health programs.

The World Partnership Walk  begins at 11 a.m. at Lumberman's Arch in Stanley Park. Since its inception in 1985, it has raised more than $45 million across the country.

It's too bad the JDRF and the Aga Khan Foundation couldn't arrange their fundraising events at different times because both are raising money for worthwhile causes.