Belfast man, Johnny Flynn, wants to celebrate this year’s World Diabetes Day on 14 November with a walk to remember at Colin Glen’s Gruffalo Trail. The event will start from 9.45am to include the walk and a presentation at the Education Centre where refreshments will be supplied.
Johnny, (pictured) a Sports Development Officer at Colin Glen Trust, is inviting local families to join him on the Gruffalo Trail and help raise awareness about diabetes.
He said: "Diabetes is a growing problem in our society and being more active can help manage diabetes and also helps reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. This World Diabetes Day I want the local community to get involved and join us on our walk and start taking action."
Johnny’s mother is living with Type 1 diabetes so he knows the value of keeping fit to help manage diabetes, whichever type it is, and that is why this event is so close to his heart.
‘This walk is only 2km and all the family could do it; it is a great way to start being more active and involving everyone at the same time. It is a lot easier to be active when you have family and friends supporting you. All the proceeds will be split between the Colin Glen Trust and Diabetes UK Northern Ireland so I hope you can come along on Tuesday, 14 November and support us and help raise awareness about diabetes in our community. It costs £5 to register and there will be tea and coffee available at the Education Centre."
Diabetes UK Northern Ireland National Fundraiser, Naomi Breen, said, ‘We are delighted to be supporting Johnny in his quest to get people moving this World Diabetes Day. Exercise and activity have such a positive impact when managing diabetes and helps us be as fit as we can. There are over 100,000 people living with diabetes in Northern Ireland with approximately 90 per cent of those living with Type 2 diabetes. I hope that everyone will come along and support Johnny and help us raise awareness about this relentless, lifelong condition.’
On World Diabetes Day Diabetes UK will be talking about their report: ‘The Future of Diabetes’, following a UK-wide campaign getting people to share their experiences of living with diabetes and what they need for the future care of their condition.
Registration will be available on the day for the Gruffalo Trail walk. Sponsorship forms will also be available from Johnny Flynn so please contact him at johnny@colinglentrust.org for further information.
