Thousands walk to beat diabetes
INITIATIVE HAS RAISED OVER DH3.67M SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2009
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Huge crowds joined the 10th annual Beat Diabetes Walk at Dubai’s Zabeel Park yesterday to raise awareness and funds for diabetes.
The event, organised by retail giant Landmark Group, raised hundreds of thousands of dirhams in participation fees (Dh20 per adult and Dh10 per child). More funds are being collected through donations at Landmark Group outlets throughout November, which is World Diabetes Month.
Landmark Group said over 18,000 people participated in yesterday’s 3km walk, bringing the total participation over the decade to more than 100,000. Since its inception in 2009, the initiative has also raised over $1 million (Dh3.67 million) for diabetes care and research.
Also, more than 500,000 people’s blood glucose levels have been tested for free through the initiative. Landmark Group had engaged over 700 schools and corporates towards the cause. The walk is held each year on the Friday that is closest to World Diabetes Day (November 14).
Funds for care
The funds from the walk will be donated to the event’s official charity partner Al Jalila Foundation that will use the money to promote care, research, and awareness for diabetes, which has no known cure.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to process glucose (sugar) for energy, leading to high blood glucose levels. The disorder can lead to severe complications in the kidneys, eyes, feet and cause other health problems.
In the UAE, an estimated 1.19 million people — around 12 per cent of the total population — have diabetes, Renuka Jagtiani, chairwoman and CEO of Landmark Group, told Gulf News. “There are possibly another 500,000 people, at the least, who are diabetic but are not ■ ■ aware — they haven’t been diagnosed. So diabetes is, unfortunately, very prevalent here.”
The prevalence of diabetes specifically among expats in the UAE is over 15.6 per cent, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Speaking about the initiative, Jagtiani said: “We’ve seen the community response go up over the years. We’ve seen slowly the response build. This year, we’ve had an outreach programme with the children — not just for the walk, but for the overall awareness — at 48 schools of GEMS Education.”
The walk was held with the support of Dubai Sports Council, Emirates Diabetes Society (EDS), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police.
Nepalese expat Devendra Niraula, 43, who was among the participants of the walk, said: “The more the people get tested, the more they’re aware, the more we can do to fight diabetes. I found out about the walk through our Nepalese community’s Facebook page and came here today.”
Filipina expat Adelle Gorro, corporate HR manager for Somewhere Hotels, has been participating since the first walk. She showed up with 16 of her colleagues at the event. “We have to support those who are suffering from diabetes and we have to raise awareness so people will know how to prevent diabetes,” Gorro said.