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114 leg Diabetes Coalition walkathon
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Posted on Jun 01 2006
The continuing drive to encourage people in the CNMI to lead a healthier lifestyle gained momentum over the weekend as 114 walkers turned out for the second annual Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition 5Km Walkathon at Laolao Bay Golf Resort on Saturday morning.
The CDC organizers were pleased to see twice as many participants in their second outing as participants from all walks of life enjoyed a picture-perfect morning along the course.
After the walkers completed their early morning journey, volunteers from the Northern Marianas College Nursing Program put their new blood pressure monitoring and blood screening skills to work by checking reading of every finisher.
Aside from the free screening, walkers also received complementary pedometers and T-shirts from the Department of Public Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
Diabetes-prevention advocate Robert Torres was excited to see such a large turnout and that it is a sign that the community is on the right track toward living well in the CNMI.
“This is simply tremendous, the new commitment that our friends and family have made to a healthy lifestyle here in our islands,” Torres said.
DPCP program manager Tayna Belyeu-Camacho said that one of the reasons for the success of the event was due to the important partnership between Public Health and the community in health prevention.
“This is all about working together and using what we have in our community to have fun and be healthy” said Belyeu-Camacho.
This is not the last to be heard from the Diabetes Coalition as the organizers plan to continue working with the Laolao Bay Golf Resort in the future with the Saipan Amateur Walking Association Inc.’s “Don’t Be a Turkey, Walk” event in November.
“Look, diabetes is a family thing. If one has it, the family is affected. If we fight it together, we can end diabetes as a health crisis in our islands. All it takes is regular walks and exercise and eating right,” said Torres.
