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The Countdown has begun to the inaugural JDRF Bournemouth and Poole 'Walk to Cure Diabetes'
- 5K Fundraising walk this weekend at Upton Country Park
Bournemouth-based over 50s insurance provider, RIAS is getting in step with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by sponsoring the first ever ‘Walk to Cure Diabetes’ in the Bournemouth and Poole area.
The event at Upton Country Park in Poole this weekend, Sunday 13 September 2009, looks set to be a great fun family day out. The route for the 5K gentle trek, which should take around 45 minutes to an hour to complete, takes in some spectacular scenery, including gardens, open parkland, woodland and shoreline. Check in starts at 9.30am Sunday morning, with a warm up before the walk starts at 11am.
There are more than 200 people already registered to talk part, with many enthusiastic walkers forming teams made up of family, friends and work colleagues. There will be something for everyone, with free entertainment including face painters, balloon modellers, singers and a dance troupe afterwards!
There’s still time to sign up and help raise the funds that are so essential to researchers who are working hard to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. It’s a condition that affects 350,000 people in the UK, 25,000 of whom are children under the age of 15. At present, there is no cure, but by stepping out this Sunday and taking part in the walk, people can help find one – and save lives.
Janet Connor, Managing Director at corporate sponsor RIAS comments: “Type 1 Diabetes is more common that we realise, and I think many of us may have at least one friend or relative, or know of someone in our community, who has this condition. The good news is that anyone can take part in this walk, no matter what their age or fitness level, and do their bit to help find a cure. You can go at your own leisurely pace, or challenge yourself by setting a personal goal – it’s up to you! We just want to get as many people as possible to come along to Upton Country Park on Sunday and join in the fun!”
Joining the Walk is easy. Individuals, families and businesses can simply register for free online at www.jdrf.org.uk/walk or call 02380 616622.
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Note to Editors:
About type 1 diabetes and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life threatening condition which has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their families. It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of their lives.
People with type 1 diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive, until we find the cure. Only research will find the cure. JDRF exists to fund that research.
Who has type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes affects about 350,000 people in the UK, more than 25,000 of them children. Incidence is increasing by about four per cent each year with the largest increase in children under five. There has been a five-fold increase in this age group over the last 20 years. The South Coast region has one of the highest incidences rates of the condition among children in England
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation exists to find the cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications, and is the world’s leading charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research. Visit www.jdrf.org.uk.
For more information about the range of products available from RIAS visit www.rias.co.uk
For further information please contact:
Lucy Pope
Consumer Communications Manager, RIAS
lpope@rias.co.uk
01202 254445
About RIAS
RIAS was established in 1992 and is a specialist provider of insurance products for the over 50s age group.
Part of Fortis (Insurance UK), RIAS has nearly a million motor, home and travel insurance customers, employs over 1,100 people across two UK sites, and is one of the UK’s fastest organically growing insurance intermediaries. RIAS negotiates with a panel of insurers to secure competitive, value for money products.
As a leading provider of award-winning personal and commercial lines insurance solutions in the UK, Fortis has a successful customer-centric strategy, founded on aligning its activities to how customers want to buy insurance, combined with delivering high quality products, manufactured at costs better than market norms.
Insuring in excess of 7 million customers and working with a range of partners, Fortis is recognised for delivering consistent and high-quality customer experiences. In 2008, its non-life profit before tax and interest was £76 million and its non-life GWP was £760 million.