ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Diabetes is the fastest-growing disease in America; the faster it grows, the more committed the American Diabetes Association (ADA) becomes to fighting the fifth-leading cause of death in America. On October 20, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA, the ADA will launch "Step Up to Fight Diabetes" -- a fund-raising challenge unlike any other. Step Up to Fight Diabetes participants will walk a 10-mile course; however, unlike other fund-raising walks, participants will be asked to climb the 10 major staircases that they pass in the process [from Independence Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (of Rocky fame), and Philadelphia's City Hall (152 steps alone)]. The participants' journey up and down the stairs symbolizes the roller-coaster nature of diabetes itself -- a disease with many peaks and valleys, both literally and figuratively. The event marks a reinvigorated attack on diabetes, and a new approach to fund raising for a cure. Philadelphia will be the first -- and only -- city to implement the Step Up event in its first year.
Not only do 21 million Americans have diabetes, but 54 million are on the verge of developing this disease. The Step Up to Fight Diabetes goal is to recruit more than 1,000 participants and to raise upwards of $1 million to support the ADA's mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
At the Step Up to Fight Diabetes web site (http://www.diabetes.org/stepup) or by calling 610-828-5003, individuals can learn more about training for the event, find fund-raising tips and read interesting facts about the staircases they will climb.
About Diabetes
If current trends continue, one out of every three children, and one out of every two minority children, will be diagnosed with diabetes in their lifetime. Each day, approximately 4,110 people are diagnosed with diabetes, and 613 people die from the disease. Since 1987, the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent. Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure. While not all types of diabetes are preventable, we can improve the lives of those who have the disease while searching for a cure. Diabetes does not stop at diagnosis and a treatment regimen. It can cause many complications, including stroke, kidney failure, heart disease and amputation.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading 501(C)3 nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities. The mission of the Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. To fulfill this mission, the American Diabetes Association funds research, publishes scientific findings, provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families, health professionals and the public. The Association is also actively involved in advocating for scientific research and for the rights of people with diabetes.
American Diabetes Association
CONTACT: Allyson Laughlin of Youngnsavvy Media, Inc., +1-310-779-9855,
allyson@youngnsavvy.com, for American Diabetes Association, or Genea Luck of
American Diabetes Association, +1-703-299-2077, gluck@diabetes.org
Web site: http://www.diabetes.org/
