Power Walk Raises $2000 for Aid of BVI Diabetes Association

A total of 82 women and men gathered at the Noel Lloyd Park in the early hours of Saturday morning to take part in the 2009 Women of Power Summit Power Walk. The two and a half mile route started at the park and onto DeCastro Street; to the Road Town roundabout. Walkers then travelled along upper Main Street to lower Joe’s Hill and onto the Paul Wattley Highway, through McNamara, along Waterfront drive and back to the Noel Lloyd Park. Power walkers Ms. Philomena Robertson and Ms. Kay Reddy tied for first place and were awarded two cheques, in the amounts of $250 and $400 of which they readily and graciously contributed the $250 to the BVI Diabetes Association, bringing the total amount of money raised for the event to $2,000.00. The checks were presented by Ms. Antoinette Morgan from the Alphonso Warner Insurance Agency, the sponsor of the prize money. Ms. Adele Perrot came in third, winning a ticket to the long awaited 2009 Women of Power Summit which will take place on 21st of November at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

“We’re thrilled to have had such a high turnout,” said Portia Harrigan, Managing Director of Oyster Global Marketing. “In addition to being a fun activity, it was also important to help to bring added and much needed attention to the issue of diabetes in our community and the funds raised will assist in the education effort.”

The latest World Health Organization evaluation found that 15% of the BVI population (about 3,000) are diabetics and that is a conservative figure. More and more children in both primary and secondary schools are developing Type II diabetes, traditionally called adult Onset Diabetes. Inactive lifestyles, diet and lack of exercise contribute greatly to this phenomenon. The BVI now ranks the highest in the Caribbean Region with Juvenile Obesity. Diabetes in the BVI is the major cause of hospitalization and without treatment causes blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and is the major cause of amputation.

“We are so grateful to Ms. Harrigan and her team for organising this event and for helping to raise money for our cause” said Ms. Roselia James-Dawson of the BVI Diabetes Association “we are also very thankful to all the participants for taking part and for coming out to support the event. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the public and our kind sponsors for their generosity. The funds raised as a result of the event will go toward educating people on how to detect, treat and prevent this debilitating disease.”

The walk was sponsored by the Beacon Business, Alphonso Warner Insurance Agency and Evian Water.