Lilly and International Diabetes Federation Announce Launch of 'Inspired by Diabetes' Creative Expression Competition
Indianapolis and Brussels, Belgium (ots/PRNewswire)
- Global contest seeks expressions of the triumphs and challenges of living with diabetes through art, essay, poetry, photography and music
Eli Lilly and Company and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) today announced the global launch of the Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition, a global contest asking people with diabetes, as well as their family and friends, to express how diabetes has impacted their lives -- and share those stories with others around the world.
The Inspired by Diabetes competition seeks expressions of the challenges and triumphs of the diabetes journey through art, essay, poetry, photography and music. People with diabetes and their family members and friends are encouraged to enter the contest. Health care professionals are also invited to enter. The entry deadline is 31 January 2008.
Inspired by Diabetes builds on the theme of IDF's World Diabetes Day 2007-08, which is dedicated to children and adolescents living with or at risk of diabetes worldwide. The spirit of the competition is to bring families and people with diabetes together to raise awareness of the global burden of diabetes -- and draw particular attention to people who do not have the resources they need to fight the disease.
By entering the competition, participants can have a direct impact on the lives of children with diabetes around the world.
When people enter the contest, they will receive two "blue circle" diabetes pins, the global symbol for diabetes. For each set of pins distributed, a dollar will be donated to the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program, which provides life-saving diabetes supplies to more than 500 children in 13 developing countries. Lilly will also make a separate donation to support the Life for a Child Program on behalf of entrants to the Inspired by Diabetes competition.
Dr. Francine Kaufman, Chair of the IDF Consultative Section for Child and Adolescent Diabetes, welcomed the initiative. "With appropriate care and education, children with diabetes can live full, happy and healthy lives. All children with diabetes have the right to the best care their country can provide. In developing countries, however, many children die soon after diagnosis; many others face the burden of diabetes complications while still young. No child should die of diabetes."
"By supporting the Inspired by Diabetes initiative and by wearing the diabetes pin," Kaufman said, "people can help save lives and encourage governments everywhere to establish appropriate care for children with diabetes."
"The many journeys traveled by people with diabetes and their families -- both the challenges and the triumphs -- have been inspiring us at Lilly for more than 80 years. The Inspired by Diabetes contest will allow people affected by diabetes to creatively express their feelings about how diabetes has impacted their lives and their families, and further inspire other people along the way," said Vince Mihalik, Lilly's Vice President for Global Brand Development, Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrine. "We're honored to work with the Unite for Diabetes initiative to help raise awareness of the global burden of this devastating disease, and on behalf on the people who enter the Inspired by Diabetes contest, we look forward to helping support the needs of children through the Life for a Child program."
Contest information
Grand prize winners will be selected for each participant group, with the winners (excluding health care professionals) receiving a trip to attend a media briefing and formal exhibition of the winning entries.
Participant categories in the Inspired by Diabetes contest are:
- Children (age sub-groups 5-6, 7-8, 9-12, 13-17 years old; includes
children with diabetes or family members or friends under 18)
- Adult with diabetes (ages 18 and older)
- Family member or friend of a person with diabetes
- Health care professional
Entries may be submitted in the following "format" categories:
- Short essay or poem - 500 words or less
- Photograph(s) - Up to three prints
- Original drawing or painting - no larger than 43cm x 66cm (17" x 26")
- Music - Original composition, up to three minutes in length
(instrumental and lyric)To learn more about Inspired by Diabetes and how to enter the Creative Expression Competition, please visit: www.inspiredbydiabetes.com.
About Unite for Diabetes and the International Diabetes Federation
Unite for Diabetes is a global campaign committed to raising awareness of diabetes and celebrating the United Nations' World Diabetes Day Resolution, which establishes the global agenda for the coming fight against the diabetes pandemic and designates 14 November as an official UN-observed World Diabetes Day, from 2007.
The Unite for Diabetes and World Diabetes Day campaigns are led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), a worldwide alliance of over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. For more information, visit www.unitefordiabetes.org.
About Lilly Diabetes
Through a long-standing commitment to diabetes care, Lilly provides patients with breakthrough treatments that enable them to live longer, healthier and fuller lives. Since 1923, Lilly has been the industry leader in pioneering therapies to help health care professionals improve the lives of people with diabetes, and research continues on innovative medicines to address the unmet needs of patients.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070621/CLTH001LOGO ) Web sites: http://www.inspiredbydiabetes.com http://www.unitefordiabetes.org
Contact:
Tim Coulom, Lilly, +1-317-655-2998; or Anne Pierson, IDF,
+32-2-543-1623. Photo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO ,
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070621/CLTH001LOGO , PRN Photo
Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com