Pune: More than 3,500 people including students, doctors and medical staffers participated in a rally and diabetes day programme organised by Diabetic Care and Research Foundation (DCRF) to create awareness about childhood diabetes on Friday.
The programme started with ‘Late Dr KB Grant Walkathon’, a part of the annual initiative by DCRF and Ruby Hall Clinic in association with Lion’s Club International District 3234D, JITO and Blue Brigade, to mark World Diabetes Day.
The annual lifetime achievement award given by DCRF was awarded to Sayali Kalamkar, childhood diabetic wrestler from Ahmednagar, at the hands of star cricketer Kedar Jadhav. Preeti Karigar and Ankita Matkari, both diabetics from Gadhinglaj, were given insulin pumps. Dr Abhay Mutha, Founder President, DCRF, announced Kedar Jadhav as the brand ambassador of the initiative on childhood diabetes. Jadhav was felicitated by former cricketer Chandu Borde.
Jadhav said, “Instead of playing video games on mobiles, children should take to outdoor activities and sports to stay fit and keep diabetes away. This initiative undertaken to spread awareness about diabetes is praiseworthy.”
A special exhibition on diabetes awareness was also organised during the event. Patients were provided with free checkups and were given live demos on exercise and consultation diet.
Mukta Tilak, Mayor, Pune, flagged off the rally. Chandu Borde, former cricketer; Atul Chordia from Panchashi Group; Girish Malapani from Lion District Governor; Bomi Bhote, CEO of Ruby Hall Clinic; corporators Arun Khanna, Prashant Jagtap, Nanda Lonkar; Dr Manisha Karmarkar, COO of Ruby Hall, Wanowarie; Amrutlal Mutha, Chief Trustee, DCRF and Dr Abhay Mutha, Founder President, DCRF, were present during the event.
