The Canadian Diabetes Association is proud to be a partner with the Alberta Diabetes Institute (ADI) and event sponsor Cash Store Financial for the Freedom Runs taking place August through October in St. John’s, Sydney, Fredericton, Moncton, Charlottetown, Barrie, Peterborough and London; as well as the Run for Diabetes in Dartmouth.

The Freedom Run events support the fight against diabetes by funding state-of-the-art, world class research at facilities across the country. Walkers and runners are encouraged to raise funds in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association and the ADI so that we can continue to lead the charge in ground breaking, diabetes research that will change the lives of the 9 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Participate in these fun, community based events and represent a cause that is becoming more and more important in the world today!

For more information about these events and to register today, please visit http://www.thefreedomrun.ca.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association’s mission is to lead the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while working to find a cure. The Association delivers on this mission by providing people with diabetes and healthcare professionals with education and services; advocating on behalf of people with diabetes; supporting research and translating research into practical applications.

About the Alberta Diabetes Institute
At the ADI, an international team of researchers has come together to work at this world class Canadian diabetes research facility. This institute is known in part for the ‘Edmonton Protocol’, which allowed for pancreatic islet transplantations in human patients. This research has had far-reaching, global impact.

Together these organizations lead the world in diabetes research for prevention and treatment.

About Cash Store Financial
Founded in 2001 Cash Store Financial operates over 500 branches across Canada providing small sum short term advances to customers as an option to traditional financial institutions. As the founder and presenting partner of the 32 Freedom Runs across the country, Cash Store Financial believes that with the ground breaking research taking place, a cure for diabetes will be discovered in the very near future.  In 2008, they made a commitment to raise $7.5 million to fund diabetes research The monies raised from those locations listed will be shared between the Canadian Diabetes Association and Alberta Diabetes Institute. 

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For more information, please contact:

Fred DeFina
Director, Team Diabetes
Canadian Diabetes Association
416-408-7102
fred.defina@diabetes.ca

Surrey, BC (June 14, 2011) - During the entire month of June, De Dutch’s 21 locations in BC will be fundraising for Team Diabetes through its “It’s Just a Buck” campaign.  This is the second year the BC based chain has run the campaign.

“The first year we ran our ‘just a buck’ fundraiser in 2009, we raised over $6,500 for Team Diabetes,” says Bill Waring President of De Dutch. 

“We moved this year’s fundraising event to June from November (diabetes awareness month) to help create more interest and awareness about the upcoming events Team Diabetes is participating in this year,” added Waring, who has participated in several running events on behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Team Diabetes program.

About De Dutch Pannekoek House
The thirty six year old De Dutch franchise with 21 locations in BC’s Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley, Okanagan, and Cariboo has successfully carved a niche in the competitive food service industry. De Dutch specializes in breakfast, brunch and lunch, offering their customers a unique blend of European ethnicity in its menu items. The Pannekoek, a 12” in diameter Dutch-style pancake, is their signature dish and continues to draw loyal customers. For more information visit dedutch.com.

About Team Diabetes
Team Diabetes is the national activity fundraising program of the Canadian Diabetes Association. The program promotes a healthy and active lifestyle where people of all fitness levels can train to walk or run a half marathon, full marathon, or shorter distance in several exciting international and Canadian destinations while raising funds and awareness for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  Visit teamdiabetes.ca to register and for more information.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure.  Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications.  Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

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For more information, please contact:
Pamela Waring
Marketing Manager
De Dutch Pannekoek House Restaurants Inc.
Phone: (604) 543-3101
E-mail: pwaring@dedutch.com

Regina Nebrida
Marketing and Communications Associate, Pacific
Canadian Diabetes Association
Phone: (604) 732-1331 ext.241
Email: regina.nebrida@diabetes.ca

‘Walk, run, cycle for diabetes’ events are held throughout the year across Canada, offering communities an opportunity to get active while raising awareness and funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association. The events are volunteer-led endeavors targeting local communities, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and dedicated to exposing the reality of diabetes and the elevated significance of the cause.

Upcoming ‘walk, run, cycle for diabetes’ events include Halifax, NS on August 25, Saskatoon, SK on August 27 and Winnipeg, MB on September 5. 

Please visit teamdiabetes.ca for a full listing of events and to register!

On March 20, 2011, thousands of participants took part in the latest version of the Rome Marathon – or, to be exact, Maratona di Roma.  A record number of 12,596 runners finished the race with Kenyan Dickson Chumba Kiptolo crossing the finish line first, and there were more than 100 walkers and runners representing Team Diabetes!

President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Michael Cloutier, alongside President of North West Company, Edward Kennedy, participated in the event. More than $650,000 was raised by Team Diabetes participants which directly contributes to the continued support of the fight against diabetes and helping the more than 9 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes.

Other 2011 event offerings include equally stunning Istanbul and tropical Cayman Islands, as well as two long distance cycling events in British Columbia. 

For more information on Team Diabetes and to register for an upcoming event, visit teamdiabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464). 

TORONTO, ONTARIO (March 8, 2011) – The Canadian Diabetes Association is offering Canadians two exciting new events this year in Istanbul (October 16, 2011) and Cayman Islands (December 4, 2011).  The Association challenges individuals and groups to join these marquee marathons as part of Team Diabetes.  For Istanbul, all team members can walk or run an 8K, 15K or full marathon and with Cayman Islands team members can participate in a 4 person relay, half and full marathons.  All Team Diabetes participants will receive training, airfare and accommodation. 

“We are very excited to increase our event offerings to our loyal Team Diabetes alumni and new participants.  Although we will keep many of our top international events on the roster, we feel it is important to diversify and keep our events fresh – we are confident that Istanbul and Cayman Islands succeed in accomplishing this,” said Fred DeFina, Director, Team Diabetes with the Canadian Diabetes Association. 

The Istanbul marathon is the only event in the world where you can walk or run from one continent to the other.  The registration deadline for this incredible journey is April 29, 2011.  Cayman Islands boasts a picturesque, flat route that is excellent for all abilities.  The registration deadline is June 3, 2011.  Team Diabetes encourages all Canadians interested in learning more to visit teamdiabetes.ca or attend an upcoming information or webinar session.

About Team Diabetes
Team Diabetes is the national activity fundraising program of the Canadian Diabetes Association. The program promotes a healthy and active lifestyle where people of all fitness levels can train to walk or run a half marathon, full marathon, or shorter distance in several exciting international and Canadian destinations while raising funds and awareness for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  Visit teamdiabetes.ca to register and for more information.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Today, more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.  Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure.  Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications.  For more information, please visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

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For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Clayton S. Claveau
Manager, National Marketing & Communications
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: 416-408-7113
clayton.claveau@diabetes.ca

          -Raise $601 - $750 and receive a Team Diabetes Hat

          -Raise $751 - $1,000 and receive a Team Diabetes Long Sleeve Tech Shirt

          -Raise $1,001+ and receive a Team Diabetes Running Jacket

* Prizes are awarded based on individual fundraising totals and only for those participants registered for the “local package” (fundraising requirement of $500 or less).

“We’re excited that Johanna Ward and Shaw TV’s The Express has decided to support Team Diabetes’ Reykjavik, Iceland marathon this summer,” said Fred DeFina, Director Team Diabetes. “It is through these kinds of media partnerships that enable us as an Association to widely promote a healthy and active lifestyle and advocate for the 9 million Canadians with diabetes or prediabetes,” DeFina added.

Johanna Ward grew up on Vancouver Island, where her family still lives. She previously co-hosted GO! Magazine on Chek TV. As the host of Shaw TV’s lifestyle magazine program, The Express, Johanna admits that she may arguably have the best gig in town. “The Express is all about what makes Metro Vancouver amazing! The people, the places, and the purpose - It’s a show that makes you feel good,” she enthused.

Johanna also teaches dance-fitness classes at the YWCA in Vancouver and at the Richmond Oval. In her free time she likes to do yoga, drink wine, watch cheesy TV and spend time with her friends and family.

Support her run or follow her blog at http://johanna-ward.blogspot.com. You can also watch her interviews with fellow Team Diabetes participants and alumna at http://www.youtube.com/teamdiabetes1.

About Team Diabetes
Team Diabetes is a national activity fundraising program for the Canadian Diabetes Association. The program promotes a healthy and active lifestyle where people of all fitness levels can walk, run, hike or bike in exciting international and Canadian destinations.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. We are supported in our efforts by a community-based network of volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals, researchers and partners. By providing education and services, advocating on behalf of people with diabetes, supporting research and translating research into practical applications - we are delivering on our mission.  Visit diabetes.ca for more information.

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For more information, please contact:

Regina Nebrida
Marketing & Communications, Associate - Pacific
Canadian Diabetes Association
(604) 732-1331 ext. 241
regina.nebrida@diabetes.ca

There he met Erica, a girl who had been living with Type 1 diabetes since she was 11 months old.

“I watched her test herself every day to see if she could eat dessert or not,” Penner said.

About a year ago, after more than three years working at the day care, Penner decided he wanted to do something for Erica, who is now nine years old, and other people living with diabetes. The 24-year-old Fort Richmond resident decided to join Team Diabetes, a fundraising program run by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Penner made a commitment to raise at least $6,100 in order to run a half marathon in Rio de Janeiro in July as part of the team.

Preparing for the run was no problem for Penner, a fifth-year member of the University of Manitoba’s track and cross-country teams who has run in several half-marathons in the past. Raising that much money, however, was a little tricky. “I kind of went in and signed up one day not really thinking about how much money that is,” said Penner, who covered all of his own travel costs even though he wasn’t required to do so. “I didn’t want people covering a free trip for me, so I put in the money for the trip and the rest of the money I collected went to the diabetes research side of it.”

Penner said he was fortunate to receive some significant donations along the way, but also had to scrape together a dollar at a time. He asked people at the university to give up a coffee or a chocolate bar and donate the loonie or toonie to him instead. “I prayed for miracles a few times, and it all worked out,” he said.

Some of the fundraising even served an educational purpose for many of the Penner met. While putting on a bake sale at the university, he was often asked if it was appropriate to be selling sweets as a fundraiser for diabetes.

“I realized that everyone who saw the diabetes signs I set up assumed I was talking about Type 2 diabetes because it’s more common,” he said. “I explained that I was doing it for Erica, who is a girl with Type 1 diabetes, and that there are days when a cookie will save her life because her blood sugar is so low.”

Although he’s a competitive runner — racing in the longer distances for the Bisons on the trails and on the indoor and outdoor tracks — Penner took on the 13.1-mile distance in Rio for a different reason.

“I purposely left my watch in Canada because I knew that otherwise it would turn into a race,” Penner said. “This was something I did for Erica. It wasn’t about me or what time I did it in.” For the record, Penner finished in one hour, 24 minutes and 41 seconds, good for fifth place in his age category.

As for the person who inspired him to run in Rio, Penner said Erica may not have understood just how much money he raised, but “she understood I was doing something special and she was the reason for it, so that was exciting to her.”

avi.saper@canstarnews.com

TORONTO, ONTARIO (Nov. 16, 2010) – The Canadian Diabetes Association proudly unveils the 2011/12 Team Diabetes calendar of events this Wednesday, November 17.  With exciting international events including Reykjavik, Istanbul and Cayman Islands, Team Diabetes continues to offer exotic destinations that keep participants coming back for more.  Beyond the international offerings, Team Diabetes will hold national events in Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Whistler (GranFondo – cycling). 

“We are very excited with the additions of Istanbul and Cayman Islands to the international offerings,” said Fred DeFina, Director, Team Diabetes with the Canadian Diabetes Association.  “Our registration deadline for Reykjavik is approaching and we encourage people to attend an upcoming information night or webinar in their area by visiting teamdiabetes.ca.”

The Team Diabetes 2011/12 calendar of events colour brochure will be featured in Running Room locations across Canada or can be obtained by contacting your local coordinator at teamdiabetes.ca.  Space for upcoming information nights and webinars on Nov. 25 and Nov. 30 is limited.  Be sure to sign up today! 

About Team Diabetes
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2010, Team Diabetes is the national activity fundraising program of the Canadian Diabetes Association. The program promotes a healthy and active lifestyle where people of all fitness levels can train to walk or run a half marathon, full marathon, or shorter distance in several exciting international and Canadian destinations while raising funds and awareness for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  Visit teamdiabetes.ca for more information.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. We are supported in our efforts by a community-based network of volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals, researchers and partners. By providing education and services, advocating on behalf of people with diabetes, supporting research and translating research into practical applications - we are delivering on our mission. For more information, please visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Clayton S. Claveau
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: (416) 408-7113
clayton.claveau@diabetes.ca

“I thought, what a better way to celebrate,” said Dana.  Also living with type 2 diabetes, Dana will be raising more than $6,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association. 

Dana was diagnosed as a young adult with a lung disorder that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery.  Years later, an aneurysm in her aorta was discovered, putting her at risk of a life-threatening rupture.  She then began suffering from an abnormal heart rhythm that hampered the organ’s ability to pump blood effectively.  Her successful transplant surgery was performed at Toronto General Hospital.

A recent fundraising walk energized Dana who at the end commented, “I felt like I could have walked all day.”

To support Dana in her fundraising or to find out more about Team Diabetes, please visit teamdiabetes.ca or call 1-800-226-8464.