The largest diabetes awareness and fundraising campaign of the year for American Diabetes Association (ADA), Kiss- A-Pig, launched on last Saturday, on the Main Stage on River Street in Savannah. The 23rd Annual Kiss-a-Pig Campaign. “Once Upon a Swine: A Fairy Tale World Without Diabetes,” is sponsored by Anne Whitton Bolyea Legacy Fund, Wet Willie’s, Morrison Dental Associates, Land Rover, Wells Fargo, Bojangles Healthy Options, WSAV WRHQ and The Savannah Tribune. A contest between community leaders to raise money, Kiss-a-Pig is a regional campaign with competitors from throughout Southeast Georgia. At the end of the three month campaign, the team with the most money kisses a live pig, honored by ADA as the original source of insulin. According to Campaign Chairman, Marianne Ganem Poppell, “Our Fairy Tale theme appeals to children of all ages. We will focus on social media to promote diabetes awareness and the events organized by team members. Our Royal Court members have embraced this and our goal is to blanket this community with diabetes awareness messaging throughout the spring.”
This year’s teams represent a diverse mix of professionals from Chatham, Bulloch and Liberty Counties.
Approximate- ly 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. That’s about in in every 11 people. 86 million Americans – more than one in three adults – have pre-diabetes. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity 30% of them will go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. Total medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diabetes costs $245 billion annually. The risk of death for adults with diabetes is 50% higher than for adults without diabetes. Today, 4,660 people will be diagnosed with diabetes and 200 people will die. Today diabetes will claim 200 limbs. Today diabetes will cost America $671 million. 8.1 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know it. During American Diabetes Association ALERT, Tuesday, March 24, the ADA’s nation-wide campaign to find the undiagnosed, FREE screenings and diabetes literature will be available at locations throughout Southeast Georgia and Coastal South Carolina.
For more information on diabetes, ALERT or the Kiss-a-Pig Campaign, contact Maria Center atmcenter@diabetes.org or 912- 353-8110, ext. 3091.