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ADA to kick off fall campaign next month
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The local area American Diabetes Association will launch their Fall Fundraising Campaign on Aug 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Gryphon Tea Room in downtown Savannah.  The kick off is designed for sponsors and teams to sign up and learn more about some brand new events scheduled for Oct. 17.

This year’s campaign event, called the Sunsplash Outdoor Fitness Festival, will consist of three events held on the same day. It will combine a 5K walk, a 10-mile, 20-mile or 40-mile bike ride and a 3-mile kayak paddle. The Festival will be held on the grounds of the UGA Marine Extension Service Aquarium on Skidaway Island and will feature live reggae music, food by Tubby’s Tank House, health vendors and children’s activities.

Overall Campaign Chair, Ken Gaylord of First Chatham Bank, will introduce the event directors responsible for the Walk, Cycling and Kayak events and information about each of these will be shared with the group. Individual chairs are Erica Jarman of Title Max, Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes; Tony Eicholz of Byck Management, Tour de Cure; and David Mason of Lorwil Land Corporation, Kayak for a Kure.

Attendees at the Aug. 18 kickoff will be able to pick up packets to get started on their individual or team fundraising efforts and learn about the prizes associated with various fundraising levels. Computers will be available so people can sign up online to walk, ride or paddle, and learn how to set up their own Web pages.

During Oct. 17 events, those who have been personally affected by diabetes will be given red T-shirts to wear that say either, Red Strider (walkers), Red Rider (cyclists) or Red Rower (kayakers). The red shirts will serve as a visual reminder of the widespread and diverse universe of people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The celebration and its focus on outdoor fitness underscores the importance of physical activity to improved health and the prevention of type 2 diabetes. All funds raised during the Sunsplash Outdoor Fitness Festival support the mission of the American Diabetes Association, to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by the disease.

For more information about diabetes or the Sunsplash Outdoor Fitness Festival, visit www.diabetes.org/Savannah or contact Suzanne Willis at 353-8110, ext. 3093 or suwillis@diabetes.org.