DUBAI // A two kilometre walkathon to raise awareness on diabetes will be held on November 28.
Landmark Group’s sixth annual Beat Diabetes Walkathon will take place at Zabeel Park in Dubai and costs Dh20 per person.
A number of other activities will also take place on the day, including games, free blood glucose screenings and live entertainment. Healthy food kiosks will also be on hand.
Last year, more than 20,000 people took part in the Zabeel Park walk. The initiative also encourages people to monitor their blood glucose levels on a regular basis and aims to refute myths about the condition.
A survey conducted last year in the capital found that of 999 parents, 52 per cent had a family history of diabetes. But 70 per cent of those parents said their children had not been tested to see if they were affected.
And as of last December, about 745,000 residents – one in 10 of the population – suffer from diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
People can register online for the walk at www.beatdiabetes.me from November 1 to 22. It begins at 8am at Area A, Gate 3, and the park itself opens at 7am.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
