Issues and Updates Walk for a Cure Buffalo, New York, were met with cheers from The Buffalo Jills (National Football League cheerleaders for the Buffalo Bills). In historic Savannah, Georgia, the town "We have an awful lot of fun," crier delivers his proclamation from a says walker Louis B. Chaykin, MD, a horse-drawn carriage. As he finishes and clinical endocrinologist and Chair of the rings his bell, a hundred white homing Walk and Tour subcommittee of the Na- pigeons take flight. His carriage moves on as the townspeople follow. In Dallas, tional Fund-Raising Committee at ADA. a sheriffs posse on horseback leads a "It's good for you and it's a good cause." large group of citizens to their task. Amid "People who walk and volunteer music from a German oompah band, a are demonstrating that they want better cannon blast sends another group of treatments, better prevention, and a cure people scurrying in Buffalo, New York. for diabetes," says Dr. Chaykin. "They These people and many others look to physicians and researchers as around the country gathered for a com- leaders." mon purpose—to raise money to help Louis Chaykin, MD, and his walking Dr. Chaykin has been trying to find a cure for diabetes as well as increase team. get more physicians and researchers in- public awareness about the seriousness volved in fund-raising. "Whether they walk or get others to walk, it is important of the disease. The American Diabetes toric areas by enlisting the help of 13 Association's (ADA) second annual costumed historical characters who for them to be visible," he says. "They Walktoberfest, held the first weekend in greeted walkers and provided them with could let others know about their re- October 1993, was the largest fund- mementoes and facts about Savannah's search. Lots of good research is being raising event in the history of ADA. history. done, but it needs to be promoted." "Largest in terms of the number Facts about diabetes were avail- Several diabetes treatment and of people and places involved on a single able at information booths placed along resource centers formed walking teams. day," says Virginia Grogan, director of the walking routes. "Diabetes brochures Many corporations, including AT&T, event development at ADA's National and pamphlets educate walkers about American Express, Prudential, Holiday Center. About 100,000 walkers and vol- why they are walking," says Grogan. Inn, Thomas Cook Travel, and The Estee unteers participated at over 170 sites. "Some places even displayed diabetes Corporation (a food manufacturer based The 1993 Walktoberfest raised facts on signs posted along the routes." in Parsippany, NJ), also walked as teams. $5.6 million for diabetes research, edu- Volunteers, 200 to 250 per site, Teams and individual walkers cational programs, and advocacy. This manned booths, helped with set-up and preregistered through an 800 number, represents an 81% increase over the registration, drove support vehicles, pro- which received over 5,000 calls, or reg- funds raised at the 1992 Walktoberfest. vided first-aid and ambulatory care if istered on site the day of the walk. Most of the money, $4.2 million, was needed, handed out refreshments at rest The number of walking sites raised through pledges obtained by stops, or provided entertainment. more than doubled from the previous walkers. Entertainment included disc year. Several sites, including Phoenix Walkers traversed a 6- to 10- jockeys, live bands, dancers, clowns, ma- (AZ), Orlando and Jacksonville (FL), In- mile route through scenic or historic ar- gicians, and other street performers. dianapolis (IN), Oakland (MI), and Dal- eas. Savannah made the most of its his- Walkers approaching the finish line in las (TX), had over 1,000 walkers. Not 98 DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1994 Issues and updates coincidentally, most of those sites also "Never before have we gotten this Downing, Denver, CO 80210. Tel: 303- raised at least $80,000. kind of corporate support at either a lo- 778-7556; Fax: 303-698-9343. Incentives to raise money in- cal or national level," says Lisa Connors, cluded an official Walktoberfest T-shirt manager of corporate development at the Diabetes Complications: Assessment, for raising at least $50 and Lillian Vernon National Center. "It's just unprecedent- Treatment, Prevention or Spiegel gift certificates valued at $15 ed." 13 April 1994 to $750, depending on the amount of Rosemont, IL funds raised. —Karen Lombardi Ingle Location: Holiday Inn The remaining $1.4 million of Sponsorship: The American Diabetes the 5.6 million raised came from corpo- Association/Illinois Affiliate, the Diabetes rate sponsorships with a 50/50 split be- Educators of the Chicago Area, the tween local and national companies. American Association of Diabetes Educa- The national presenting sponsor ADA Events tors. for Walktoberfest was Equal sweetener of Contact: Sue Apsey, American Diabetes the Nutrasweet Company. Three weeks Recognition Conference: Meeting the Association/Northern Illinois Affiliate, before the event, Equal issued 50 million National Standards for Diabetes Pa- 6 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1202, Chi- 30-cents-off Equal coupons in the Sun- tient Education Programs and Apply- cago, IL 60602. Tel: 312-346-1805 or day issue of major newspapers. For every ing for ADA Recognition, 25-26 Jan- 800-433-4966. coupon redeemed by March 31, 1994, uary 1994, Boston, MA. Equal donates 10 cents to ADA for a Behavioral Medicine Satellite Sympo- contribution of $250,000-$350,000. sium: Strategies for Implementing Two weeks before the event, Tight Control in Patients with Type I Equal cosponsored a sign-up and sweep- and Type II Diabetes, 26—27 January Other Events stakes with Soap Opera Update. When 1994, Boston, MA. people signed up to participate in Walk- 41st Annual Advanced Postgraduate 1st Postgraduate Clinical Endocrinol- toberfest in New York City or Los Ange- Course: 28-30 January 1994, Bos- ogy Course les, they were treated to appearances by ton, MA. 20-23 April 1994 daytime soap opera stars. One fan was Research Symposium: Pancreas and Is- Gerona, Spain flown to New York City to help the stars let Cell Transplantation, March 18- Location: Parador De Aiguablava in the sign-up and received special "star 20, 1994, San Diego, CA. Sponsorship: European Federation of treatment" all day. Another lucky fan 54th Annual Meeting and Scientific Endocrine Societies. won a trip for two to the set of a favorite Sessions: 11-14 June 1994, New Or- Contact: Professor F.F. Casanueva, De- soap opera and a personal backstage leans, LA. Deadline: 7 January 1994 partment of Medicine, Endocrine Sec- tour. for submission of abstracts. tion, P.O. Box 563, Santiago de Compos- Also two weeks before the event, Contact: ADA, Professional Education tela, 15780 Spain. Fax: 34-81-57 21 Proctor & Gamble issued a $1.00-off Department, 1660 Duke Street, Alexan- 21. Tide detergent coupon. For every cou- dria, VA 22314. pon redeemed by its expiration date of Program information: 703-549-1500, Arterial and Arteriolar Wall in Dia- October 31, 1993, Proctor & Gamble ext. 212 or ext. 215; registration infor- betes Mellitus: Animal vs. Human donated 5 cents (up to $90,000) to ADA. mation: 703-549-1500, ext. 330. Studies Over 400 supermarkets/drug- 20-23 April 1994 stores and 350 retail outlets across the 31st Annual Colorado Diabetes/Endo- Toledo, Spain U.S. promoted Walktoberfest through crine Institute's Highly Scientific Di- Deadline: 1 November 1993 for submis- store displays, posters, and coupon of- dactic Lectures and Panel Discussions sion of abstracts. fers. People magazine and Family Circle on Diabetes and Endocrinology Sponsorship: European Society for Clin- ran complementary Walktoberfest ads. 22-27 January 1994 ical Investigations. On the day of the event, Equal Aspen-Snowmass, CO Topics include: Microcirculatory and other national sponsors, including Sponsorship: American Diabetes Asso- changes, endothelial dysfunction, vascu- The Estee Corporation, Proctor & Gam- ciation/Colorado Affiliate and the Colo- lar reactivity, and pathobiology of the ble (Tide), and the Hershey Food Cor- rado Society for Endocrinology. vessel wall in diabetic angiopathy. poration (Luden's) provided samples of Contact: The American Diabetes Associ- Contact: Dr. N.C. Schaper, Department their products. ation/Colorado Affiliate, 2450 South of Internal Medicine, University Hospi- DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1994 99 Issues and updates tal, P. Debyelaan 25, postbus 5800, 6202 Quebec 2W 1T8, Canada. Tel: 514-843- Location: Hakone Prince Hotel AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. Tel: 2917; Fax: 514-843-2709. Sponsorship: International Diabetes 043-877019; Fax: 043-875006. Federation Congress American Board of Internal Medicine Topics include: Diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes 1994 Conference Examinations Contact: Dr. Nigishi Hotta, Third De- 6-7 May 1994 23-24 August 1994 partment of Internal Medicine, Nagoya Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Deadline: 1 September 1993 through University School of Medicine, 65 Tsu- Location: Coast Plaza at the Stanley 1 December 1993 for registration. ruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466, Ja- Park, 1733 Comox Street, Vancouver, Contact: Registration Section, American pan. Tel: 052-741-2111, ext. 2218; British Columbia, Canada. Board of Internal Medicine, 3624 Market Fax: 052-733-8241. Sponsorship: University of British Co- Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Tel: lumbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1-800-441-2246; Fax: 1-215-243-1500. 15th International Diabetes Federa- Canada. tion Congress Topics include: Improving ability to di- 7th International Congress on Obesity 6-11 November 1994 agnose and manage patients with insu- 20-25 August 1994 Kobe, Japan lin-dependent and non-insulin-depen- Toronto, Ontario, Canada Location: Kobe Convention Center dent diabetes mellitus. Location: Westin Harbour Castle Hotel Topics include: Prevention of diabetes Contact: Diabetes 1994 Conference, Participants may receive AM A Category and clarification of goals to reach by the Room 105-2194 Health Sciences Mall, I study credits.