The SA Journal Diabetes & Vascular Disease Vol 11 No 4 (November 2014)

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176 VOLUME 11 NUMBER 4 • NOVEMBER 2014
NEWS SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
The third annual Novo Nordisk ‘Changing
Diabetes’ cycle relay took to the road
again on 6 November. The gruelling two-
day, non-stop marathon, which featured
both cycling professionals and enthusiastic
amateurs, is a unique advocacy event
aimed at raising much-needed awareness
of the growing diabetes pandemic. It is
not a competition as such, however, and
there are no winners – all participants are
given equal recognition for their support of
diabetes awareness.
The 1 600-km relay began with a big
send-off in Rivonia, Johannesburg, and
ended in Cape Town two days later. This
is the first time the event has ended in the
Mother City rather than in the Garden Route
town of George, making it 400 km longer
than before.
Teams that had participated before
welcomed the BestMed team, which cycled
in the event for the first time. Also new to
the event were the father of a child living
with diabetes, and a team of four female
cyclists. Marco Moolman and Kyle Hoods,
both 13 years old, also participated. They
are among the 500 000 children under the
age of 15 living with diabetes worldwide.
Moolman said that he took part because he
wanted to give hope to desperate parents
who may feel that the world is coming to an
end because their child has been diagnosed
with diabetes.
From the outset, the event has had the
dedicated support of rugby legend, Joel
Stransky, who also took on the new, longer
route this year. ‘An event like this gives a
sport that I’m passionate about even more
meaning’, says Stransky. By taking part in
the cycle relay, I can use the sport that I love,
to raise money for a group of very deserving
children. It isn’t easy, but it’s the outcome
that makes it all worthwhile.’
The relay featured free-to-the-public
diabetes testing and screening at testing
stations in Soweto, Kimberley, Paarl and
Novo Nordisk ‘Changing Diabetes’ annual cycle relay takes to the road
Cape Town, an initiative that had the support
of the municipalities in all of these towns.
In Johannesburg, local government support
went even one step further. Mayor Parks
Tau and Novo Nordisk South Africa’s general
manager, Dr Timmy Kedijang, joined the
teams on the first leg from the company’s
headquarters in Rivonia to Maponya Mall in
Soweto, a distance of 45 km.
‘The cycle relay has become a popular
fixture on the sporting calendar’, says
Dr Kedijang, ‘and participants are welcomed
at every stop along the way. All of the cyclists
feel it’s a means to improve awareness on
the prevention, diagnosis and management
of diabetes.’
This is a key message as diabetes has
reached almost epidemic proportions in
South Africa and is considered one of
the country’s most significant healthcare
challenges. As a global healthcare company,
Novo Nordisk has made a long-term
commitment to address this challenge
through a programme that includes
education on the risk factors, symptoms and
treatment of the condition. Its core message
is that diabetes is a manageable condition
and that, with appropriate treatment and
lifestyle interventions, those living with it
can have long and active lives.
One of the cyclists who took part in the
relay has diabetes himself and is living proof
of how effective contemporary treatment
protocols can be. Early diagnosis makes
an important difference to long-term
outcomes, though, and the best results
are achieved if treatment is adhered to and
monitored regularly. An enjoyable exercise
routine and a healthy diet can also make a
real difference.
The cycle relay, which was conceptualised
and initiated by a healthcare practitioner
based in George, Dr Jacques van
Staden, raises sufficient funds to provide
disadvantaged children living in the George
area with the insulin they require to
manage their condition for a whole year.
Novo Nordisk donated R200 000 to Team
4CD, which was led by Dr van Staden. (Dr
van Staden was profiled in a recent issue
of this journal, when he discussed his two
passions, diabetes care and cycling, and
how he had the brainwave of combining
them to raise funds to support his work in
his community.)
At the conclusion of this year’s event, Dr
van Staden expressed his gratitude by giving
special mention to Novo Nordisk and its
partners for their enormous contribution to
the event. He thanked all the cyclists who
took the time to participate, and honoured
them with medals.
Overall, the cycle relay was a great
success and Novo Nordisk feels that its aim
of raising greater awareness of diabetes
was achieved. More than 800 people were
tested at the four testing stations that were
set up along the route.
P Wagenaar
Dr Jacques Van Staden founder of Team C4D screen-
ing communities for diabetes in Maponya Mall
Soweto.
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