• Home
• /
• Healthcare

20,000 join Beat Diabetes Walk in Dubai

Walkathon to raise awareness about diabetes and promote the benefits of a healthier lifestyle creates a carnival atmosphere at Zabeel Park

People take part in the annual ‘Beat Diabetes Walk’ organised by Landmark Group at Zabeel Park in Dubai on Friday. — KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd

More than 20,000 participants took approximately 50 million steps in total in Dubai on Friday in a bid to raise awareness about diabetes and promote the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.

Renuka Jagtiani, vice-chairperson of Landmark Group, led the two-kilometre Beat Diabetes Walk along with senior officials from the group as well as representatives of Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai-based diabetes support group – I am Number One – comprising children with Type 1 diabetes and their families.

Deepak Khurajia, a 45-year-old architect whose mother and brother have Type-2 diabetes, had brought along his son and daughter to support the cause. He was late in reaching the spot because he inadvertently parked near Gate 6 of Zabeel Park, and had to find his way to Area A Gate 1 where participants were advised to assemble between 7am and 7.30am.

“I should have checked the map on my phone,” said a blue-tee wearing Khurajia whose teenaged children wanted coins from their father so they could feast on spiral potatoes — one of the snacks on offer after the none-too-arduous stroll. This despite Khurajia’s promise to his kids of a calorific and sugar-intense breakfast of halwa-puri at Ravi restaurant in Karama, and this right after a walk for diabetes.

There must have been at least 500 people wearing blue shirts and caps and walking at a snail’s pace at Zabeel Park in the morning. Families — elders and young children alike — arrived in big family-sized cars and parked in front of Area A, Gate 1. Everywhere you could see white and blue — the colour scheme of the event. Balloons in those colours swayed in the air. And the presumably helium-filled ones were untied to float upwards.

Following the two-kilometre walk, walkers were herded towards the area that enabled free diabetes checks — blood glucose tests were administered by medical professionals. Those who had their index fingers pricked with a needle got free orange juice. There was no dearth of people and noise. It was a carnival-like atmosphere.

The Fitness First stall organised small contests and had treadmills parked next to them. Camel milk was sold. Yalla Momos and Dome and Balance Café had food you could buy. Sandwiches and a plate of four momos came for Dh10. The line outside the stall selling camel milk was one of the longest, obviously piquing the curiousity of many.

There was a play area for children, and an endless non-stop jamboree for children — face painting, balloon bending, acts by mime artists and magicians. At the arts and crafts corner, little ones were invited to paint mugs and T-shirts, craft jewellery and badges, or try their hand at rubber art. Also popular were the areas that offered massages to loosen the knots in the tired limbs of walkers.

On the other side of Zabeel Park, less enthusiast regulars were out and about as usual on their exercise routine. A tourist-photographer from Cambodia named Nhean had his digital SLR lens trained on the blossom of a canna lily. And from where he was standing, he could hear the commotion on the other side of the park, but when asked by Khaleej Times of his impression of the walkathon activities and whether he would care to join, he shook his head and said, “too noisy”.

Earlier, participants assembled at Area A Gate 1 to register, warm up, and seek out their free caps and tee shirts — made possibly by sponsors such as Centrepoint, Home Centre, Max, Fitness First and iCare Clinics. Some people got lost on the way and landed up only after the walk was over, but joined the walkathon anyway. The walkathon was originally scheduled to be on November 22 but was postponed because of rain that week. The organisers didn’t want to run the risk of an early morning cancellation, or worse, have people slipping and falling over themselves. -news@khaleejtimes.com