For the first time, on Saturday, May 20 from 10:30am the walk will take place around the showgrounds oval with information to be seen and activities held at the Wool Pavilion and Lions’ sheds.
Entry fee is only $10 with all funds raised to go to Lions Diabetes and participants can walk as many laps as they want within their capabilities. Bring the whole family with children to walk for free and your furry family members are also welcome for a morning of exercise.
Yarrawonga Lions Club President Joan Tufvesson is urging groups of people to join in the walk, especially sporting clubs, to raise awareness for the common disease of diabetes.
“We are urging groups of people to sign up and participate. They can even dress up if they want and make an occasion of it or if a team or club is involved, dress in your club colours,” Joan said.
“We encourage businesses to look after their staff and enter a staff team even just to find out more about the disease.
“Being a Saturday morning, we know a lot of people have sport commitments but come along and warm up for your games with us while raising money and awareness for a great cause.
“We will also be recording the distance as all Lions clubs are participating in the lap the map and this goes a way to us reaching our distance milestone.”
The entry fee is all inclusive with free snacks and water on offer. All snacks and food will be suitable for diabetes sufferers and will give an insight to those who are unaware of what foods are not suitable for a diabetes patient as well as what is best to avoid to prevent the disease.
Woolworths will supply snack foods, Midland Fresh will be supplying fruit and vegetables for kids and Bunnings will be hosting activities for children.
Several health professionals from Yarrawonga Health and local specialities will be in attendance with Dieticians also on hand to provide advice and information.
President of Lions Club of Lake Mulwala Helen White shared some facts about diabetes with it being the chosen cause of the year for the Lions Club of Lake Mulwala to raise awareness and funds for.
Diabetes is becoming a health epidemic in Australia with over two million Australians currently diagnosed as pre-diabetic, 134,000 have type 1 Diabetes and 1.3 million Type 2 Diabetes.
“A number of health professionals will be present at the walk with information about how to recognise symptoms and ways to treat or prevent getting the disease,” Ms White said.
“Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
“Everyone is welcome to attend the day, either to talk to the advisors or to walk as many laps of the Showgrounds oval as they wish.
“Every participant’s distance walked will be registered to add to the event total.
“Lions Clubs from all over Australia are having similar walks and it is hoped that the grand total of kilometres will add up to Lap the Map of Australia.
“Diabetes is one of Lions global causes so both clubs are proud and happy to be hosting this event.”
Book through TryBooking at Walk For Diabetes Tickets, Wool Pavilion, Yarrawonga Showgrounds, Yarrawonga | TryBooking Australia or pay on the day.
Raffle tickets are also currently being sold with a wood pellet pizza oven the prize with the raffle to be drawn on the day.
For those people who can’t attend the walk but would still like to donate to the cause or for more information on the walk, contact Lions Club of Lake Mulwala’s Helen White on 0407 521 278 or Yarrawonga Lions’ Ollie Tufvesson on 0477 143 336.
