PRESS RELEASE: Isuzu, Novo Nordisk and Biogen put their might behind the gruelling 48 hour cycle challenge for diabetes
South Africa's toughest bakkie, Isuzu and leading diabetes care company Novo Nordisk have put their brand might behind the Changing DiabetesR Cycle Challenge.
Sixteen (16) cyclists will be hitting the tar on 8 November to take part in this marathon challenge of cycling from Joburg to George in just 48 hours, with the sole objective of raising awareness and funds to provide treatment for underprivileged youngsters living with this chronic condition. The team will be fuelled by Biogen, the health and wellness, nutritional supplements for endurance.
The group will be accompanied by legendary former Bok, Joel Stransky, who enthusiastically supports its objective. "Everyone deserves to feel good and have a proper start in life," he says, "and for these kids that means getting the treatment and care they need," says Stransky.
The challenge is an initiative by Dr. Van Jacques Van Staden, a George based GP who also runs the C4D Cycling team (Cycle4Diabetes). Through the year the team takes part in national cycling calendar events, as a means to support the charity.
"Approximately 3.5 million South Africans are living with diabetes," says Dr. Timmy Kedijang of Novo Nordisk. "The problem is that only about half have been diagnosed - and only about half of those are receiving some form of treatment. That is why we support events such as these - to raise awareness of diabetes and to demonstrate the fact that, with proper management, people living with the condition can do anything they choose to do. The message he wants to give to those taking an interest in the cycle challenge is that, living with diabetes doesn't mean you have to opt out of sports like cycling," he says. "It's just a matter of managing the condition with the right treatment, and making the right lifestyle choices. Then anything is possible," he says.
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Should you wish to donate to Cycle 4 Diabetes please contact Shirley on 011 784 0602 or email us on info@prpowerhouse.co.za.
Follow the team on twitter @Change_Diabetes or on Facebook www.facebook.com/ChangingDiabetesZA.
For further information on diabetes and treatment options for people living with the condition, visit www.novonordisk.com.
Biogen: www.biogen.co.za
Isuzu: www.gmsa.com
Beneficiary stories
1) Sanelise and Sanele Manyana
The twins, Sanelise and Sanele Manyana. Sanelise was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2006 and four years later in 2010 Sanele was diagnosed. Their mother had Type 1 diabetes and died of diabetes related complications. The father is without work and is staying in another town. The grandmother, is caring for the children out of her small pension. Her application for a small care dependency grant for Sanelise succeeded, but only after three years. She is a 70 year old lady and not healthy herself. She does her best to look after the twins and gives them their insulin on a regular basis. C4D is sponsoring both of them with analogue long acting insulin.
Sanelise has been part of c4d from 2009 and Sanele from 2010. Their control is up and down as can be expected but C4D's aim would be to help these children so that they do both suffer the same fate as their mother.
2) Lewin Hartnick
Lewin Hartnick was seven years old at the time of diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes. He lives in a small settlement called "Slang River". It is about 2 hours drive from George. At age 14 years he did not grow much and was already suffering from severe peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, hypertension as well as retinopathy (these are all diabetic complications).
He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions with Diabetic ketoacidosis. He was also doing badly at school due to his diabetic complications and being in hospital so frequently. All due to very poor blood glucose control. He was admitted to the Cycle4diabetes sponsorship programme and is sponsored with long acting analogue insulin replacing the old NPH insulin that he got from the state. He is still using the regular insulin he is getting from the state to cover his meals (this is a short acting insulin). His control has improved tremendously with the long acting analogue insulin as basal insulin. His Hba1c (average blood glucose) has improved from 14% to 7% in the last 3 years on the c4d program. He is now doing well in school and has not yet been admitted to hospital for high blood glucose levels. Although none of Lewin's diabetic complications can be reversed his quality of live has improved and worsening of his complications prevented on the C4D program.
3) Jenve-Lee Muller
Jenve-Lee Muller, 6 years old. She was diagnosed in 2009. Jenve-Lee's mother is a single mother and is also struggling to get a job. They are staying with the grandparents in a small two room dwelling. When she started the C4D programme her hba1c was 8. Thankfully she has not developed any major diabetic related complications. She was placed on long acting analogue insulin in 2010 and her hba1c improved to 7.6% within 6 months.
Editorial contact:
Shirley Pharamela
076 383 3518
Shirley@prpowerhouse.co.za
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