GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- To commemorate World Diabetes Day (WDD) 2012, a number of activities has been organized including a planned blue walk and bike-a-thon for Saturday, November 17.
The Minister of Public Health and his overall prevention program 'Get Checked' along with the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is working in collaboration with the Diabetes Foundation and Rotary Club St. Martin Sunrise, are working together to organize various activities to create awareness surrounding diabetes.
WDD will be observed around the world on Wednesday, 14 November.
Residents and interested persons are asked to come and join the organizers for the Walk and Bike-a-thon that will kick-off from the Le Grand Marche Supermarket on the Bush Road at 6:00am under the banner, 'Walk for Health.'
The Diabetes Foundation of St. Maarten has tickets on sale for US$10 which includes a T-shirt, a healthy sandwich and orange/bush tea.
The walking route is: A.J.C. Brouwers road, Welgelegen road, over Link One, Front Street, past RBC Bank, left onto J. Yrausquin Blvd., Pondfill road to the stop lights, turn right onto A.Th. Illidge road, at the round-a-bout turn left onto Zaegersgut road towards Bush road, and back to Le Grande Marche Supermarket.
The bike-a-thon route is: Le Grand Marche Supermarket Bush Road starting 6:00pm, Prince Bernhard Bridge, Longwall road, Front Street right on Pompsteeg (by Sea Palace), Boardwalk (rest for water and fruits), Kaneelsteeg, Emmaplein, Suckergarden, Arch road, A.T. Illidge road, Coralita road, L.B. Scott road, ending at Le Grand Marche Supermarket Bush road.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The walk and bike-a-thon are efforts towards a healthier and more sustainable country for all.
