NBC 'Today' Co-Host Al Roker to Serve as a National Ambassador for Inspired by Diabetes Campaign to Help Children With Diabetes
November 06 2007 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Program encourages people affected by diabetes to enter art contest
providing camp scholarships for kids in the U.S. INDIANAPOLIS, Nov.
6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Al Roker, NBC "Today" co- host and
America's favorite weatherman, is joining the Inspired by Diabetes
global campaign as a National Ambassador to raise awareness of the
growing diabetes epidemic in the U.S. Inspired by Diabetes is a
global collaboration among Eli Lilly and Company, the International
Diabetes Federation's Unite for Diabetes initiative and the
International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. In the
United States, the American Diabetes Association is serving as the
Inspired by Diabetes U.S. national advocate. As a National
Ambassador, Roker will promote the Inspired by Diabetes Creative
Expression Competition, a contest inviting people with diabetes, as
well as their family and friends, to share their diabetes journeys
through art, essay, poetry, photography and music
(http://www.inspiredbydiabetes.com/). Additionally, as part of
American Diabetes Month and as a lead-in to the first United
Nations-designated World Diabetes Day on November 14, Roker will
host an "Inspired by Diabetes Day" at the Children's Museum of
Manhattan and an NBC News Special on Diabetes, airing in major
markets, on November 10. The special is sponsored by Lilly, a
global leader in diabetes care. November is American Diabetes
Month, organized by the American Diabetes Association. This year's
theme is "The Many Faces of Diabetes," spotlighting the role of
people with diabetes, caregivers, people in the workplace, at-risk
populations and children in the daily challenges of managing
diabetes. ADA is the U.S. National Advocate for the Inspired by
Diabetes campaign and is encouraging people affected by diabetes to
enter the contest. Roker, who has actively supported programs
combating childhood obesity through his production company Al Roker
Productions, Inc., has joined Inspired by Diabetes to help raise
awareness of what Americans can do to improve their own health in
the face of the diabetes epidemic, including the rise of type 2
diabetes in children. According to two National Health and
Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted from 1976-1980 and
again in 2003-2004, the prevalence of childhood obesity has
increased from 6.5 percent to nearly 19 percent in children ages 6
to 11 and jumped from 5 percent to 17.4 percent in American
teenagers.(1) Further, the CDC indicates that the epidemics of
obesity and the low level of physical activity among young people
may be major contributors to the increase in type 2 diabetes during
childhood and adolescence.(2) "More than 21 million children and
adults have diabetes in this country, so it is critical for our
friends, families and communities to understand the impact the
disease can have and what we can do to stay healthy," Roker said.
"The Inspired by Diabetes campaign puts a national spotlight on
this epidemic, and I'm inspired by the program's commitment to
helping children both here in the United States and around the
world." By entering the Inspired by Diabetes competition,
participants can have a direct impact on the lives of children with
diabetes around the world. For each entry received in the U.S., Eli
Lilly and Company will contribute funds toward diabetes youth
outreach initiatives in the U.S. through scholarships for ADA
diabetes camps. Globally, Lilly will donate funds to IDF's Life for
a Child program providing life-saving diabetes supplies to more
than 500 children in 13 developing countries. "Al's genuine care
and compassion for the well-being of our communities is truly
moving, and we are thrilled to have him as the National Ambassador
for Inspired by Diabetes," said Darlene Cain, Chair of the ADA
Board. "By lending his infectious enthusiasm to our program, Al
plays an important and influential role in inspiring others to
contribute to the Inspired by Diabetes contest." Inspired by
Diabetes Contest Information Children, people with diabetes and
their family members and friends are encouraged to enter the
contest. Health care professionals are also invited to enter. Grand
prize winners will be selected for both the U.S. and global
contests for each participant category (see below), with the
winners (excluding health care professionals) receiving a trip to
attend a media briefing and formal exhibition of the winning
entries. Participants from the United States will also have their
submissions entered into a separate U.S. contest with a chance to
win both the global and national competitions. U.S. grand prize
winners will also receive tickets and backstage passes to attend an
Elliott Yamin concert in 2008. The entry deadline for the contest
is January 31, 2008. For all rules and regulations, go to
http://www.inspiredbydiabetes.com/ Participant categories in the
Inspired by Diabetes contest are: -- Children (age sub-groups 5-6,
7-8, 9-12, 13-17 years old; includes children with diabetes or
family members or friends under 18) -- Adult with diabetes (ages 18
and older) -- Family member or friend of a person with diabetes --
Health care professional Entries may be submitted in the following
formats: -- Short essay or poem -- 500 words or less --
Photograph(s) -- Up to three prints -- Original drawing or painting
-- no larger than 43cm x 66cm (17" x 26") -- Music -- Original
composition, up to three minutes in length (instrumental and lyric)
How the Donations Work Inspired by Diabetes builds on the theme of
World Diabetes Day, dedicated to children and adolescents living
with or at risk of diabetes worldwide. The spirit of the
competition is to bring families and people with diabetes together
to raise awareness of the global burden of diabetes -- and draw
particular attention to people who do not have the resources they
need to fight the disease. When people enter the contest, they will
receive two "blue circle" diabetes pins, illustrating the global
symbol for diabetes. For each set of pins distributed, a dollar is
donated by Lilly to the Life for a Child program. In addition, in
the spirit of the Inspired by Diabetes campaign, Lilly will also
make a separate donation to support the Life for a Child program on
behalf of the contest winners. Entries from the U.S. will also
trigger a donation from Lilly to support scholarships for children
from low- income families to attend ADA summer camps. ADA is the
largest provider of camp programs in the U.S. for children with
diabetes and their families. To learn more about Inspired by
Diabetes and how to enter the Creative Expression Competition,
visit: http://www.inspiredbydiabetes.com/. About Unite for Diabetes
and the International Diabetes Federation Unite for Diabetes is a
global campaign committed to raising awareness of diabetes and
celebrating the United Nations' World Diabetes Day Resolution,
which establishes the global agenda for the coming fight against
the diabetes pandemic and designates 14 November as an official
UN-observed World Diabetes Day beginning in 2007. The Unite for
Diabetes and World Diabetes Day campaigns are led by the
International Diabetes Federation (IDF), a worldwide alliance of
over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries. Its
mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure
worldwide. For more information, visit
http://www.unitefordiabetes.org/. About the American Diabetes
Association The American Diabetes Association is the nation's
premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research,
information and advocacy. The Association's mission is to prevent
and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected
by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides services to
hundreds of communities across the United States. For more
information, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit
diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in
English and Spanish. About Lilly Diabetes Through a long-standing
commitment to diabetes care, Lilly provides patients with
breakthrough treatments that enable them to live longer, healthier
and fuller lives. Since 1923, Lilly has been the industry leader in
pioneering therapies to help health care professionals improve the
lives of people with diabetes, and research continues on innovative
medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. For more
information about Lilly's diabetes products, visit
http://www.lillydiabetes.com/. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a
leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical
products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide
laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific
organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides
answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the
world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is
available at http://www.lilly.com/. P-LLY (1) Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Overweight and Obesity. Atlanta, GA: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2007. (2) CDC.
Diabetes Projects. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Chronic Disease
and Health Promotion, CDC, 2005. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070621/CLTH001LOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070621/CLTH001LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company
CONTACT: J. Scott MacGregor of Eli Lilly and Company,
+1-317-651-1494 (office), +1-317-440-4699 (cell); or Diane Tuncer
of the ADA, +1-703-549-1500 ext. 5510 Web site:
http://www.lilly.com/ http://www.inspiredbydiabetes.com/
http://www.lillydiabetes.com/
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