PRESS RELEASE
With support from Roche Diabetes Care, five grassroots initiatives in the US and two international projects will receive up to US$100,000 in funding
BERKELEY, CA: October 9, 2012 - Diabetes Hands Foundation will award up to US$100,000 in Big Blue Test grants aimed at providing lifesaving supplies, medical tests, treatment, and patient educationto people who have or at risk of having diabetes and are living in need.
Five US-based initiatives are each eligible to receive US$10,000 in funding, with the remaining US$50,000 supporting projects in Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. These grants are made possible by Roche Diabetes Care, makers of ACCU-CHEK® products and services, through its ongoing sponsorship of the Big Blue Test.
The following US-based projects are eligible for funding, each aimed at providing people touched by diabetes who are in need with lifesaving supplies, medical tests, treatment, and/or patient education,:
- Auxanomen Health Clinic at Parker Lane United Methodist Church in Austin, TX
- American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad, Inc. (AYUDA) for its work with the Pascua Yaqui tribe in Pima County, AZ
- DASH (Diabetes and Sports Health) Camps / LIFT-Levantaté in Oakland, CA
- Insulin for Life USA in Gainesville, FL
- University of Colorado, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Aurora, CO
Diabetes Hands Foundation is partnering with recognized NGOs to bring Big Blue Test Grant funding to our international projects:
- Fundación Aprendiendo a Vivir in Dominican Republic; and Fundación Diabetes Juvenil Ecuador in Ecuador, through American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad, Inc. (AYUDA)
- Fondation Haitienne de Diabète et de Maladies Cardio-Vasculaires (FHADIMAC) in Haiti, through World Diabetes Foundation
"The funds from the Big Blue Test will save the lives of thousands of people with diabetes in need," said Manny Hernandez, president of the Diabetes Hands Foundation. "Through this program, people with diabetes help themselves and help others."
"Once again, the ACCU-CHEK brand is proud to support the Big Blue Test and its goal of helping people with diabetes better understand what affects their numbers," said Marc Gibeley, Head of Roche Diabetes Care North America. "During the past two years, Roche has also helped thousands of people in the U.S. and around the world receive lifesaving diabetes supplies through this program. It's an honor to be part of it again in 2012."
During the month leading up to World Diabetes Day (November 14th) people are invited to participate by checking-in at www.BigBlueTest.org. Participants are asked to test their blood glucose, exercise for 14-20 minutes, test again, and share the experience at www.BigBlueTest.org. Each entry translates into funding from sponsor Roche Diabetes Care for the Big Blue Test Grants.
"We expect the Big Blue Test to be bigger than ever in 2012," continued Mr. Hernandez. "Our goal is to have 20,000 entries recorded at www.BigBlueTest.org, which will translate into $100,000 in funding for these worthy groups from the program sponsor, Roche Diabetes Care."
See the complete list of the US$10,000 grant recipients in the US