Fighting Diabetes: Governor General Thanks St. Kitts Diabetes Association and National Bank
Participants pose for a group picture at the end of the walk; Members of the National Bank team, bottom picture on right; and individual top finishers Ms Henry, who was first (left) and Mr Taheba Heyliger (right) who was second pictured with Mrs Adora Warner (centre).
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MMS-SKN) — Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd, GCMG, JP, is congratulating the St. Kitts Diabetes Association and the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank Limited, for their continued efforts in educating the public on the dangers of diabetes and on how to keep the scourge at bay.
Accompanied by a team from Government House, Her Excellency the Governor General joined scores of participants who on Saturday, November 18, took part in the 9th Annual Walk by the St. Kitts Diabetes Association, which took participants from the Cenotaph in Fortlands, via Bay Road, to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank roundabout and back to the Cenotaph.
The walk, which was held under the theme ‘Education to Protect Tomorrow’, had the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank Limited as the major sponsor. Chairperson of the Bank’s Board of Directors Mrs Carol Boddie, Acting CEO Mr Anthony Galloway, and Group Commercial Head Mr David Lake, led a large team of board and staff members who took part in the walk.
“I would like to thank St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank for continuing to be the main sponsor for the Diabetes Walk,” said Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd at the end of the walk. Along with a team from the Government House, the Governor General was in the leading pack of participants from the beginning to the end of the walk.
The Governor General, who is a former Federal Minister of Health, observed that the number of persons with diabetes is growing, and events like the Diabetes Walk are important as they continue to bring about awareness about the disease, which is a leading cause of deaths in the country.
“We just want to let people understand that they need to take care of themselves,” said Her Excellency. “Those who already have diabetes you now take care of your diet, and make sure you exercise so that you can lead fruitful lives.”
Acting CEO of the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank Limited, Mr Anthony Galloway, noted that the Bank has been a title sponsor of the St. Kitts Diabetes Association Annual Walk for over five years, and they will continue to support it, as it was a cause the truly believe in, as diabetes affects a lot of people in the Federation, noting that it is one of the leading causes of death in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Through our support, the St. Kitts Diabetes Association has brought awareness of the disease, and it has done education on the symptoms, causes, and treatment,” pointed out Mr Galloway. “It is something that we and our staff support and also join in the walk every year to show our support – so it is not only a monetary support, but it is a true support.”
Participants had assembled at the Cenotaph from as early as 5:00 a.m. when it was still dark, and after they were taken through a short regime of exercises by professional fitness trainer, Mr Wayne Clarke, they set off at 5:40 a.m.
Thanking the participants was Secretary of the St. Kitts Diabetes Association, Mrs Adora Warner, who was accompanied by the Association’s Treasurer, Ms Merle Liburd (Treasurer), and Directors Mr Ellamorrow Levy, Mrs Jasmine Hanley, and Mr Anthony Evelyn; and members of St. Kitts (Basseterre) Lions Club, Mr Gary Thompson, and Mrs Lavida Levy.
Other teams that took part in the walk included those from the St. Kitts National Youth Parliamentary Association (SKNYPA), Taiwan Technical Mission to St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Zion Moravian Church.