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Diabetes Awareness MonthNovember is always a high point in <strong>JDRF</strong>’scalendar, and in <strong>2010</strong>, we celebratedNational Diabetes Awareness Month witha variety of exciting initiatives. These events andprograms raise awareness of our organization andsupport of those living with diabetes in <strong>Canada</strong>.One of our favourite activities is the annual videocontest. For the third year, <strong>JDRF</strong> invited youthaged 10 and older to submit a video of up to threeminutes in length sharing their personal stories,goals and accomplishments living with type 1diabetes. The top three videos selected by theLeadership Volunteer judging panel were postedonline at www.jdrf.ca, where the general public wereinvited to vote for their favourite. Congratulations toour first place winner, Alanna Nielsen!The theme of the <strong>2010</strong> video contest, “What areyou doing to champion the fight against diabetes?”carried over into <strong>JDRF</strong>’s social media initiatives.Visitors to the <strong>JDRF</strong> Diabetes Awareness Monthmicrosite (www.worlddiabetes.ca) were encouragedto share their photos, thoughts and inspirations onour new World Diabetes Day <strong>Canada</strong> Facebookpage (where they could also watch a video fromAndrew McKee), Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.Through these social media networks, <strong>JDRF</strong>recognized and celebrated Diabetes Championsacross <strong>Canada</strong>. Champions are people touchedby diabetes, including friends and family, diabetesresearchers, healthcare practitioners, volunteers,diabetes educators, advocates, life sciencepartners, community leaders, role models, mentors,and elected officials, just to name a few.At the heart of the month is World Diabetes Day(November 14), a day designated by the UnitedNations to globally recognize and celebrate thoseliving with diabetes. For the third year in a row,<strong>JDRF</strong> partnered with the Canadian DiabetesAssociation (CDA) and Novo Nordisk for combinedinitiatives in communities throughout <strong>Canada</strong>.Eli Lilly also joined us in <strong>2010</strong> as a silver sponsor.Once again, buildings and monuments across thecountry were illuminated in blue on World DiabetesDay: the CN Tower in Toronto, Banting Housein London, the Northern Lights Casino in PrinceAlbert, <strong>Canada</strong> Place in Edmonton, Rogers Arena inVancouver, and many more. All cast a blue glow onthe night sky, commemorating the day and raisingawareness of diabetes.Local groups caught the spirit with their own uniqueblue-themed activities. Ancaster High Schooldeserves special recognition for setting a GuinnessWorld Record by creating the largest Macarenadance in honour of World Diabetes Day. All 1,861participants dressed in blue and dance in a circle,the international symbol for diabetes.Other awareness-raising initiatives included specialsupplements in Reader’s Digest, the Toronto Starand National Post on World Diabetes Day. Inaddition, we released our 2011 <strong>JDRF</strong> calendar,featuring core programs, outreach, advocacy, thirdpartyevents, profiles of Diabetes Champions, andways to get involved with <strong>JDRF</strong>. Calendars weredistributed through <strong>JDRF</strong> Chapters and Walmartpharmacies across <strong>Canada</strong>.<strong>JDRF</strong> would like to thank all of our sponsors,supporters, Champions and friends who madeWorld Diabetes Day and Diabetes AwarenessMonth a huge success! •
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