The Mr. Diabetes® Wake Up and Walk® Tour
The Mr. Diabetes® Wake Up and Walk® Tour is a 10,000+ mile walk of the perimeter of the United States by Defeat Diabetes Foundation Executive Director, Andy Mandell, to raise awareness about the incidence and preventability of diabetes and the importance of early detection of the disease.
You Can Help Mr. Diabetes® and The Mr. Diabetes® Wake Up and Walk® Tour Please Give Now
Goals
• To help identify the 11 million American diabetics who don’t know they have the disease.
• To help identify and prevent diabetes among the 41 million pre-diabetic Americans.
• To provide current and accurate information about diabetes to all people at the Defeat Diabetes Foundation website.
• To put a human face on the disease.
• To demonstrate that having diabetes is not a death sentence by providing an example of a long-term, insulin dependent, senior diabetic who is successfully coping with the rigors of the disease and living an active and fruitful life.
• To recommend diabetics go to treatment programs. There is also a need for an unbiased opinion of products and services especially aimed at diabetics. Due to the exploitation of diabetics it is important for them to get an unbiased evaluation of various nutrition and fitness programs and diabetic related products and services.
• Encourage others to join the effort. With 21 million American diabetics we should be a powerful influence on legislation and the development of programs to support our needs.
Facts
Began: December 1, 2000 -- Madeira Beach, FL (450 mile trial walk)
Re-commenced -- January, 2002 – East Milton, FL
Duration: 6-7 years (or however long it takes!)
Current Location: Pineora, Georgia - March 2008
Miles Completed to Date: 9,000
Route: West -- Western FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, CA
North -- San Diego, CA to Seattle, WA
East – ID, MT, ND, MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME
South -- ME, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, PA, MD, VA, Washington DC, NC, SC
States still to Walk: Georgia and Florida
End Point: Madeira Beach, FL
Walker: Andrew P. Mandell – Mr. Diabetes® -- Executive Director of Defeat Diabetes Foundation
(Guest Slots are available!)
Personal Stats: Insulin Dependent Diabetic -- Diagnosed 1985
Born April 23, 1945
Height 6’4”
Weight – 250 lbs.
Mr. Diabetes’® stride is approximately 30 inches. He estimates that he will take at least 21 million steps during his walk, one step for each diabetic in the country.
Along his travel route Mr. Diabetes® is meeting with people one-on-one and in small groups. He speaks at schools, fraternal and civic organizations, boys and girls clubs and scouting organizations.
Life on the road presents many challenges and hardships. Mr. Diabetes® is living in a recreational vehicle (RV) and camps each night after his walk. He is often exposed to extreme elements, harsh temperatures and encounters with feral animals. Andy is linked to the world by a cell phone, satellite dish and a lap top computer.
Russ and Shirley Barriger, are the Tour Manager(s). They are responsible for Mr. Diabetes’® safety while on the road, mapping the route, documenting the tour on video and acting as on-site press liaison.
Andy provides regular updates of his journey on the web that provide a glimpse of his daily life. Read his latest
update.
