Charity’s first Moon Walk raises $3,000 for diabetes prevention

Walkers raised $3,000 for the Bermuda Diabetes Association (BDA) last night under the light of a full moon.

Organizers said the charity’s first Moon Walk was “a huge success”, with 67 people taking part — more than twice the numbers expected.

Among those attending were Governor George Fergusson and his wife Margaret.

Mr Fergusson said: “It’s Diabetes Awareness Month and this walk is for a very good cause.

“The Bermuda Diabetes Association helps to raise awareness of the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables, and exercising more.

“People should also have their eyes tested for glaucoma, particularly as they get older, as this is connected to diabetes.”

He said: “This was a very nice walk on a lovely evening, with nice people.”

The route started and finished at City Hall, Hamilton, and went through Pembroke via North Shore Road — a distance of 5K.

Dr Annabel Fountain, one of the organizers of the Moon Walk, said: “The weather was perfect and the moon was absolutely stunning, particularly along the North Shore.

“This walk was less than 5K and we finished it in less than an hour, and it is the kind of walk everybody should be doing every day.

“We think we should now start doing a Moon Walk every month, as diabetes awareness needs to be year-round.”

Organizer Jamie Zebedee, who designed the T-shirts for the event, incorporated the United Nations’ symbol for diabetes — a blue circle — in her design.

“We are very happy at how the event went,” she said.

Alicia Wanklyn, BDA fundraising and programme coordinator, said: “It was a huge success and everybody said they had a really fun time.”

The event’s ‘glow in the dark’ T-shirts were sponsored by Argus, while Barritt’s supplied bottles of water.

Uncle Elvis provided entertainment with his ukulele while raffle tickets and healthy eating calendars were also sold at the finish, at City Hall.

For more information on diabetes and future events, see www.bermudadiabetes.org