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Rewarding for you and us Defeat Diabetes Foundation Defeat Diabetes
Foundation 150 153rd Ave, Suite 300 Madeira Beach, FL 33708 |
Diabetic Man Leaves on 10,000-Mile Walk Pensacola, FL – Today, January 15, 2002, Andy Mandell – also known as Mr. Diabetes® left Pensacola Florida on a 10,000+ mile walk of the perimeter of the United States to raise awareness about the incidence and dangers of diabetes. Mandell, a 56-year-old insulin dependent diabetic, says “There are 20 million Americans with diabetes in this country and half of them don’t even know they have this terrible disease. I’m out here trying to get people to Wake Up to the problem.” The complications from diabetes can be severe. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness in the United States and can also lead to amputations, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Diabetes causes 200,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. Mr. Diabetes® suffered horrible complications as a result of his own diabetes and nearly died from the disease. After spending over two years in bed he fought back from the brink of death and re-gained control of his diabetes and dedicated his life to informing the public about the dangers of the disease. Andy has been a long time amateur athlete; runner, tri-athlete and Black Belt in the martial arts. But, due to his diabetic neuropathy he had to learn to walk again before he could begin his epic journey. He uses a walking pole to aid with balance since he still cannot feel his feet and legs! Mandell, at 6 feet 4 inches, with a stride of 30 inches, estimates that he will take one step for each of the 20 million diabetics in this country on his walk. Mr. Diabetes® will walk from Florida then west to San Diego, CA north to Seattle before heading east across the northern tier states. The trip is estimated at 3 – 5 years. THE WALK™ is sponsored by the Defeat Diabetes Foundation, of which Mandell is Executive Director. The Defeat Diabetes Foundation was established in 1990 and is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Defeat Diabetes Foundation is dedicated to early identification, information and education regarding the benefits of health and fitness in the treatment of diabetes. The focus is on the much-neglected areas of fitness, nutrition and self-management of the disease in conjunction with appropriate medical monitoring. The Defeat Diabetes Foundation supports public information programs through direct mail, the website, a free screening tests for schools program and the Mr. Diabetes? Wake Up and Walk® Tour. For additional information about diabetes and its warning signs visit: www.defeatdiabetes.org
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 Costa Rica Travel Corp. will donate a portion of the proceeds to and is a sponsor of Defeat Diabetes Foundation.
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