LAURINBURG — Lace up your sneakers and join the Scotland County NAACP Youth Council as it tries to bring awareness to the community about diabetes.
The group will hold its 5th annual Diabetes Walk-a-thon on Saturday. The walk is co-sponsored by Campbell Soup’s African American Network.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death for adults.
“We are trying to combat it by bringing knowledge by at least moving, standing, walking and trying to combat it with eating properly,” said Rena McNeil, advisor of the youth council.
The group chose diabetes as one of its initiatives because members have seen the effects of the disease. A young man on the council has Type 2 diabetes.
There are events sponsored by other groups throughout the year, that focus on on cancer and Alzheimer’s, but there is not much discussion about diabetes and how to prevent it.
“But it is just not a push with diabetes. So we decided that we would go with diabetes. But that is our focus.”
Registration starts at 9:45 a.m. at BB&T Bank at 400 S. Main St. It is a three-mile walk and the registration fee is $3 per mile. The walk will end at Sycamore Lane Middle School.
“Of course anything that you are willing to give, you can,” she said.
Walkers can contribute more if they choose to. All ages are welcome to participate. Campbell Soup has a large team and McNeil encourages other businesses to make their own team and join the walk.
The goal for this year’s event is $5,000. McNeil said last year the group was able to raise $3,000.
Representatives of the American Diabetes Association from Raleigh will be available to talk with participants about diabetes. They will also share how the money raised is used.
There will be a football game at the end of the walk this year as well.
“We just want to let it be known that it doesn’t have to be hardcore working out to help with diabetes. It could just be a little movement, walking, drinking a little more water, things that you can do in moderation to improve where you are if you have it and to also to keep you from getting it,” she said. “It affects everyone. We are all in this together.”