CDA, JDRF launch national campaign to identify Canada's Diabetes Champions

JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATIONNov 4 2009

National campaign launched to celebrate Canada's Diabetes Champions

Today, the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) launched a national campaign to identify Canada's Diabetes Champions. This national celebration - held in honour of World Diabetes Day (November 14) - recognizes the ongoing commitment of millions of Canadians who build awareness of, and live with, diabetes in Canada.

"Anyone involved in the diabetes community, from patients to parents and friends, to doctors and researchers, is a Diabetes Champion," said Ellen Malcolmson, President and CEO, Canadian Diabetes Association. "We're very excited to showcase the unique achievements of Canada's Diabetes Champions while also raising awareness of the wide reaching impact diabetes has on the lives of people living with the disease."

Canadians can share their stories, and celebrate the Diabetes Champion in their life, by visiting www.worlddiabetes.ca and exploring the Diabetes Champion Gallery. Visitors can nominate their Champion through comments, photos and videos, while Champions can share their stories via Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. The celebration starts today and runs until November 14.

"I love learning about all the great things people are doing to raise awareness about diabetes across Canada," says Deborah Sissmore, Canadian Diabetes Champion. "It reminds you that you are part of a larger community that is committed to finding a cure. I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to share my story and celebrate the diabetes Champions in my life."

Visitors to www.worlddiabetes.ca can test their diabetes knowledge - and raise funds for a cure - by taking the sanofi-aventis Diabetes Champion quiz. For every completed quiz, sanofi-aventis will donate $1 to diabetes research.

"With more than three million Canadians and their families affected by diabetes, finding a cure is paramount," said Andrew McKee, president and CEO of JDRF. "The sanofi-aventis Diabetes Champion Quiz is a fun way to educate the public about diabetes while raising the funds needed to improve lives of people living with diabetes."

Other www.worlddiabetes.ca features include an interactive map of World Diabetes Day events in Canada, and, educational resources about diabetes.

"Novo Nordisk is pleased to be a founding sponsor for World Diabetes Day Canada," said Vince Lamanna, president, Novo Nordisk Canada. "At Novo Nordisk, we aspire to be Diabetes Champions by defeating diabetes through finding better methods of diabetes prevention, education and treatment."