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Lions International District 19L walk for Diabetes

Published 12:20 PDT, Fri October 27, 2023

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Our community is blessed with an abundance of people who volunteer their time for the benefit of others. Whether it’s service clubs, city committees, food banks, helping a neighbour, fund raising for charities, sports for kids, helping our seniors, cleaning up the environment or serving as an elected government official “what is that saying, when you need something done you ask a busy person.”

Every club or group of volunteers has a mission, a project that’s in the best interest of their community, their families, and their friends. These groups of volunteers discovered the benefits of building a network where life-long friendships are created and where they witness first-hand the accomplishments that can be achieved when working together. As someone who learnt at the early age of 16 the rewards of volunteering, I’ve encouraged everyone who will listen, the importance and the awareness of the lives you touch and the difference you can make when volunteering your time.

On that note, the Lions Club International approached the Richmond Sentinel to support their next event. It’s not a fund-raising campaign, but an awareness event with a unique twist. November is Diabetes awareness month which is a global initiative to raise awareness and the Lions Club International is hosting on Sunday, Nov. 12 a Diabetes awareness “Walk 10K Steps Per Day”.

Diabetes Information:

For those interested, the Richmond Sentinel recently filmed an interview with award-winning author and registered dietician, Rika Mansingh where we talked about diet & blood sugar management. richmondsentinel/videos

• There are more than 11.7 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes undiagnosed, 5.7 million diagnosed. If left undiagnosed and unmanaged this develops into Type 2 diabetes.

• Diabetes complications are associated with premature death.

• Diabetes can reduce lifespan by 5 to 15 years.

• People with diabetes are over 3 times more likely to be hospitalized with cardiovascular disease, 12 times more with end-stage renal disease, almost 20 times for non-traumatic lower limb amputation compared to the general public.

• Diabetes contributes to 30 per cent of strokes, 40 per cent of heart attacks, 50 per cent kidney failure requiring dialysis, 70 per cent of all non-traumatic leg and foot amputation.

• Diabetes is also a leading cause of blindness.

Mission:

• Raise Diabetes Awareness

• Create opportunity to encourage community members to participate in a daily habit of 10K steps

• Educate our community on how to prevent diabetes

• Advocate a healthy lifestyle

Event information:

Date: Sunday, Nov. 12

Registration time: 10 to 11 a.m.

Opening Ceremony: 11 a.m.

Walk times: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location: Aberdeen Centre (ground floor near fountain/escalators) 4151 Hazelbridge Way

Registration fees:

$5 for individuals and $50 for Lions clubs. All proceeds will be donated to Diabetes Canada to fund critical research, support services and education resources.

Award system:

1) The Fastest and the Most Steps Achieved - 3 individuals

2) The Most Steps Achieved - 3 Lions clubs

*Presentation of prizes will take place at approximately 12:45 p.m.

Routes: Walk at your own pace, around Aberdeen Mall from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Use a health watch or cell phone app or calculate your steps by memory and report to registration your personal best number of steps

Workshop Section:

Two workshops related to Diabetes for the public will be hosted during the event on the ground level of the Aberdeen Centre.

Event information provided by the Lions Club International District 19L.

For information on Diabetes Canada diabetes.ca