The largest fundraiser of the year for American Diabetes Association, Kiss-a-Pig, kicks off Saturday at 5 p.m. on River Street. This year’s candidates will make their grand entrances and be introduced to the public during the OlymPIG Opening Ceremonies.

This year’s campaign will feature a competition between the Marathoners, longtime Kiss-a-Pig contestants, and the Sprinters, newcomers to the contest.

The kickoff is free and open to the public and will take place during First Saturday on River Street.

A contest between community leaders to raise money, Kiss-a-Pig is now a regional campaign with contestants from Chatham, Effingham, Liberty counties as well as Beaufort (S.C.) County. The winners kiss a live pig, honored by American Diabetes Association as the original source of insulin, during a gala on May 30 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.

The Marathoners will be the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools versus the community of Liberty County, competitors for 17 years and 13 years, respectively.  

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is being represented by Daniel Snope. His campaign managers are Dr. Sheila Woo, administrative mentor and performance coach, and Janet Gnann, physical education teacher at May Howard Elementary.

The Savannah public schools have raised over $908,000 since they began participating in 1993.

The Liberty County team, represented by Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jason Rogers, has competed since 1996.  

In 2008, the Liberty County Team, represented by Danny Creasy of the The Heritage Bank, finally won after always being the bridesmaid and never the bride.  Their record-shattering total in 2008 was $160,000.

Contestants competing in the Sprinter category are:
• Troy Alford, representing Effingham County. His managers are Bev Donaldson, South Effingham Middle School and Michelle Brinson, Atlantic Southern Bank

• Marcia Banes, Savannah Magazine. Her campaign managers are Ashley Tramontin, Savannah Riverboat Cruises, and Amanda Holloway, Classic Party Rentals. Her team, the Notorious P.I.G., has several events planned, including the P.I.G. Event at Avia on April 17 and P.I.G. Par3ini at Crosswinds Golf Club

• Dr. Paul Bradley and Ruby Gettinger, Ourlife.  Their campaign manager is Colleen Spencer, also with Ourlife.

• Lisa Nucci, University of Phoenix-Savannah Campus associate director. Her University of Phoenix team members and campaign managers are Kareem Hill, Edward Hood and Misty McIntyre

• Dr. Sidney Smith, Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic. His campaign is managed by Ken Power and Kandie Spence, both with the Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic in Savannah

• Jeff Taylor, The Drive 103.1, will represent Adventure Radio Group; his manager is Dottie Cantarino with the Adventure Radio Group

• Dr. Earl Yarbrough Sr., president of Savannah State University. His campaign is being managed by a group of School of Business Administration students: Kyle Hutcheson, Cheryl White, Laurina Saunders, Myleka Jenkins, Makita DeBose-Porter and John Taylor. Upcoming fundraising events include a gospel concert.

• Mayor Billy Keyserling, mayor of Beaufort, will represent Beaufort County. His campaign managers are Sonny Googins, Bill Culp and Doris Heard.

• Gordon Gnann, Southbridge Golf Club, representing the neighborhood of Southbridge; his manager is Adam Geigerman, also with Southbridge Golf Club. Gnann will be having a golf tournament in honor of his friend who was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Funds raised during the Kiss-a-Pig Campaign support the mission of American Diabetes Association. On March 24, the American Diabetes Association will conduct its 21st annual Alert Day.

Free blood glucose screenings will be available at the following locations and times in the Savannah Field Office service area:

• CVS Pharmacy – 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 1128 E. DeRenne Ave., (912) 356-32219

• K-Mart Pharmacy – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 33 West Montgomery Cross Road, (912) 927-1448

• Office of Dr. Jack Heneisen, Rincon – 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 1214 N. Columbia Ave., Rincon, (912) 826-2132

• Kroger, Richmond Hill – 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 53 Exchange St., (912) 459-3011

• Liberty Regional Medical Center – 7 a.m.-noon, 462 E. G. Miles Parkway, (912) 369-9491

• Beaufort Memorial Health Mobile Wellness Unit will do screenings at the Beaufort Wal-Mart, – 9 a.m.-noon, 350 Robert Smalls Parkway

On March 30, free vision screenings, glaucoma screenings and blood glucose screenings will take place at The Village on Skidaway Island between 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Free written risk tests will also be available at the following locations:

• CVS Pharmacy – 119 Bull St.; 12012 Abercorn St.; 150 Johnny Mercer Blvd.; 301 E. Montgomery Street; 4717 East Highway 80; 4725 Water Ave; 5690 Ogeechee Rd.; 712 Stephenson Ave.; 2176 E. Victory Dr.; 7360 Skidaway Rd.

• Kmart Pharmacy – 33 W. Montgomery St., Savannah

• Chatham County Health Dept. – 2011 Eisenhower Dr., Savannah

• Bryan County Health Dept. – 430 Ledford St., Pembroke

• Camden County Health Dept. – 600 North Charles Gilman Jr. Ave, Kingsland

• Effingham County Health Dept. – 802 Highway 119 South, Springfield

• Glynn County Health Dept. – 2747 4th Street, Brunswick

• Liberty County Health Dept. – 113 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville

• Long County Health Dept. – 57 N. Macon St., Ludowici

• McIntosh County Health Dept. – 3510 Highway 57, Townsend