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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.

Goals

To help identify the 6.1 million American diabetics who don't know they have the disease.
To help identify and prevent diabetes among the 57 million pre-diabetic Americans.
To provide current and accurate information about diabetes to all people at the Defeat Diabetes Foundation website, www.DefeatDiabetes.org.
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 24 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: 8 years
Current Location: completed!

Miles Completed to Date: 10,030+
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 -- MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, Washington, DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL
End Point: Madeira Beach, FL
Walker: Andrew P. Mandell -- Mr. Diabetes© -- Executive Director of Defeat Diabetes Foundation
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 estimated that he took at least 21 million steps during his walk, one step for each diabetic in the country.

Along his travel route Mr. Diabetes© met with people one-on-one and in small groups. He spoke at schools, fraternal and civic organizations, boys and girls clubs and scouting organizations.

Life on the road presented many challenges and hardships. Mr. Diabetes© lived in a recreational vehicle (RV) and camped each night after his walk. He was often exposed to extreme elements, harsh temperatures and encounters with feral animals. Andy was linked to the world by a cell phone, satellite dish and a lap top computer.

Russ and Shirley Barriger, were the Tour Manager(s). They were 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 provided regular updates of his journey on the web that provide a glimpse of his daily life. Read his last update of The Tour™.

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