Help fight diabetes by pumping gas with Esso

MONDAY, NOV. 19: Esso Bermuda is lending a hand to fight diabetes.

It has launched its “Help Us Help” promotion, whereby for every gallon of gas that is pumped at all Esso stations from now up until January 11, 2013, 5¢ will be donated to the Bermuda Diabetes Association.

All proceeds raised will go to the Bermuda Diabetes Association in order to assist the organisation's daily operations and to aid in the educational outreach and awareness programmes.

The Help Us Help charity promotion is run by Esso and its dealers. Participating Esso stations are: Sandys, Port Royal, Warwick, B.I.U, Esso City 24/7, Collector’s Hill, Crawl and St. George’s. The general public is encouraged to fill up at any Esso gas station and on your behalf Esso Bermuda will donate five cents for every gallon of gas that is pumped into your vehicle to the Bermuda Diabetes Association.

Mark Fields, lead country manager of Esso Bermuda, said in a press release: “Esso Bermuda and its dealers are proud to promote the Help Us Help programme for 2012 benefitting the Bermuda Diabetes Association.

“Step by Step we are assisting the Bermuda Diabetes Association. Promoting awareness amongst Bermudians with regards to making healthier lifestyle choices in diet and exercise, will benefit all of us.

“We thank the Bermuda’s motoring public in advance for participating in our Help us Help Campaign for the Diabetes Association by filling up at one of our Esso Service Stations during this promotion period.”

Dr Annabel Fountain, Bermuda Hospitals Board director of Endocrinology and deputy chairman of the Bermuda Diabetes Association, said: “Bermuda has shocking statistics with regards to the number of people affected by diabetes and particularly by the devastating complications. 

“The Bermuda Diabetes Association and the Bermuda Hospitals Board Chronic Disease Management Centre are working tirelessly to educate the public on how to prevent diabetes and its complications.  Diabetes can be prevented, it can be controlled and the complications are not inevitable. 

“I want the people of Bermuda who have diabetes in their families or who have already been diagnosed to have hope.  I want them to feel that they can make a difference to their health and the health of their families. 

“With support from Esso, we are pleased to have the opportunity to raise awareness through another avenue and we are so pleased to have their support.”

Debbie Jones, BHB diabetes nurse educator and director of the Bermuda Diabetes Association, added: “In 1985 30 million people were known to have diabetes. Recent figures released from the International Diabetes Federation on World Diabetes Day 14 November 2012 show that today there are 371 million people globally with diabetes. Why the shocking increase? Lifestyle.

“People are not exercising as they once were and they are drinking far too many sugary drinks and eating high fat fast foods.

“The answer is to have everyone do 30 minutes of physical activity every day, drink water and eat healthy foods. We are so grateful to Esso for taking on this challenge of raising awareness of diabetes throughout the island and for supporting the work of the Bermuda Diabetes Association. Thank you Esso and thank you Bermuda for making those changes to your lifestyle which will improve your health.”

This past year alone, 160 patients were diagnosed at the hospital with type 2 Diabetes. In 2012, 220 clients enrolled in Diabetes Education Centre classes designed to assist and educate newly diagnosed patients.

For more information on the Bermuda Diabetes Association please visit www.diabetes.bm