Well, we’re back at it – walkin’ & talkin’. It was a bit slow gearing up, again, after not walking for that time, but we still managed to log some miles, meet many hundreds of individuals, conduct 10 newspaper and TV interviews, meet with one Mayor, receive a Certificate of Recognition from South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and a greeting of well wishes and encouragement from diabetic actress/comedienne Park Overall. Only 5.0 miles to the Georgia state line in Augusta!! For list of interviews and appearances see DDF Home Page (upper left) – WHATS NEW.
Also, I have begun the rigors of the Ultimate Black Belt Test [UBBT]. For the details of this extraordinary 13 month ultimate commitment to the martial arts please refer back to my UPDATE:
August, 2007 where I profiled the UBBT and Master Teacher Tom Callos who is the inspiration behind it. Black Belt Magazine featured Tom and UBBT in their September Issue (Page 98). If you missed it then, make a special effort to go back and catch it now. There will be more on this expanding program [UBBT] in my future UPDATES and on the DDF website.
And, please click on the “flashing” blue icon with the stick-figure doing a karate side kick to learn of my next project for when THE WALK™ is completed in December, 2008.
For the month of October, in order to prepare myself better for the many challenges facing me in the UBBT, I am headed beck to Waltham, MA for some intense and quality private instruction with my martial arts instructor, Paul Alagna. Paul’s dojo, United Shaolin Kempo, is located at 422 Moody Street in Waltham, MA. This has been the continuous home for Shaolin Kempo Karate since 1968. PHONE: 781.891.5991.
Also, while there, I will be meeting with UBBT Team member Jason Gould, for additional workouts and more learning. Jason’s dojo, Emerald Necklace Budo Martial Arts is located at 129 Braintree Street in Allston, MA. PHONE: 617.230.1973. And, incidentally, Jason will be heading up to Niagara Falls for the week of October 16 to compete with other world-class martial artists in Kata (Forms), Weapons and Sparring. Every success, my friend! The truth of the matter is that Jason is already a huge winner because he is already in the game – PARTICIPATING!!! The wonderful thing about the martial arts is that it is a journey with no end, no matter what level of expertise is achieved. Master Teacher Tom Callos will be the first one to confirm this – even he is still learning.
I want to point out that the driving force behind this effort is MADDCAP™ (Martial Arts Defeat Diabetes® Community Action Project). It is necessary for me to maximize my martial arts background and incorporate it into THE WALK™, so that Master Teacher Tom Callos and I can effectively impact diabetes with this program.
So, as you can see, all is well in my world.
And, while I am back in the Boston, MA area (Waltham and Allston) I expect to catch up with other friends – after all, I was born and raised in the Boston (and Newton) area.
Tour Managers, Russ & Shirley Barriger, are taking this unexpected time off to be back on the farm in Michigan with family and friends.
Now, looking forward – I am pleased, no THRILLED!!, to announce our new association with the company which has taken a leadership role in providing diabetics with an all natural, safe and effective “stevia” based energy drink: “BClear”. (BClear contains no sugar or caffeine.) Defeat Diabetes Foundation is a long-time advocate of “stevia” for diabetics – actually, for everyone. Remember, if a health product is good for diabetics it IS good for everyone! And, to be sure, as is our policy, we also check into the ownership/management behind the product(s) we recommend. BClear holds up in every respect. Please go to their website for more details of this fine dietary supplement product and ordering information:
www.BCLEARUSA.com Also, coming on board later this month (October, 2007) is a new service that will alleviate a great amount of confusion that exists in the world of those providing help to family and friends as “care givers”. It will bring together the various lines of communications absolutely necessary to insure the best possible treatment for our loved ones.
NO MORE missed appointments.
NO MORE missed scheduled medications.
NO MORE one healthcare professional not knowing what another healthcare professional is doing. This program has been in development by top professionals for more than one year and is currently undergoing its final testing(s) to insure both its completeness and effectiveness.
And, MADDCAP™ (Martial Arts Defeat Diabetes® Community Action Project) is about to launch. Dawn Swidorski, our Public Outreach Director, has been going over the multitude of details that make up this innovative, revolutionary really, program in preparation of the national announcement coming any day. For a more detailed description go to the “flashing” blue icon on the right rail of all 2000+ pages of the DDF website and click on the stick-figure doing the karate side kick. If you would like to participate, write to:
mrdiabetes@DefeatDiabetes.org or Dawn Swidorski:
dswidorski@DefeatDiabetes.org and put MADDCAP™ in the subject line.
As always, I invite your participation in any of our worthwhile programs. If you wish to advertise your products/services on our website, or be a Sponsor please go to our Products & Services tab at the top of all website pages to learn about our prices and policies. Should you wish to make a donation to support any of our existing programs, simply click on the torch found on the upper right rail of each website page. Remember, your donation is to a 501(c)(3) charity and is tax deductible. There is no amount you can donate that is too little – every dollar helps. Just do the best you can. But, most importantly – GET INVOLVED!!! Please help us to continue to help you. Thank you.
Good Health.
Andy Mandell MR .DIABETES®
