More
Than 3m Steps In Support Of Start Walking.
Organisations across the UAE have stepped-up support
to Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s (ICLDC) Start Walking. initiative
in the lead up to November’s ‘Walk 2013’ at Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island.
More than three million steps have been notched up
since the grass roots activity launched in June of this year, with over two
million taken during a two week period alone, which included activation during
the recent visit of international
basketball star Kobe Bryant.
The UAE’s first Kobe Bryant
Health and Fitness Weekend - which was organised by Maven Marketing and Events -
came out in support of ICLDC’s campaign with over 40 children playing for more
than 120 minutes to notch-up an impressive tally of 1.16 million steps in
support of Start Walking.
Also in the UAE capital,
Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC (Oxy), joined in the campaign via its
signature 'Corporate Wellness Day,' which is organised in to promote well-being
by providing resources to educate employees and families and raise awareness of
diabetes. The day began with a fitness challenge among Oxy employees, followed
by a healthy lifestyles exhibition, a lecture on diabetes, and a walk which saw
100 individuals add more than 103,000 steps to Start Walking.
The campaign’s own Play for
Life Football tournament also pulled out the stops with in excess of 270,000
steps collected in a walk organised on the first day around the main Zayed
Sports City stadium. Organising executive teams, sponsors and more than 240
players from 12 corporates joined the walk. Over the five night tournament, the
players added an impressive 2.2 million steps to the Start Walking.
tally.
Al Ain also joined in the
activation, with more than 40 colleagues at the Zayed House For Islamic Culture
joining in a walk around the Centre’s grounds. This followed a presentation to
management on healthy lifestyles for the management and prevention of diabetes
by ICLDC’s Dr Farhana Bin Lootah.
Meanwhile, Cerner Middle East
in Dubai joined the campaign chalking up 35,000 steps by braving the afternoon
sun in walking around the corporate office at the start of their on-going
regional Start Walking drive.
Start Walking. was launched by ICLDC’s public health awareness campaign,
‘Diabetes-Knowledge-Action’ under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima
bint Mubarak.
·
Since its
launch in 2007, the campaign has promoted the importance of active lifestyles.
·
A healthy
diet and a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day has been shown to reduce the
risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 58 per cent.
·
More than
371 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, citing the latest
figures from the International Diabetes Federation suggesting that the
condition affects 18.9 per cent of the UAE population, placing the
Emirates at number 11 worldwide.
·
Almost 50
per cent of people living with diabetes are not aware of their condition
Start Walking. is set to stage a collection of mini-walks right up
to November in the run up to the annual Walk 2013, walkathon at YAS Marina
Circuit on November 15, the day after World Diabetes Day.
Individuals, groups and organisations nationwide can take part in Start Walking. by forming walking groups or events - with the campaign's website diabetesuae.ae regularly updated with ideas, downloadable posters and flyers.
Individuals, groups and organisations nationwide can take part in Start Walking. by forming walking groups or events - with the campaign's website diabetesuae.ae regularly updated with ideas, downloadable posters and flyers.
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