Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Walk 2017, the 11th edition of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre’s (ICLDC) annual walkathon will be returning to Yas Marina Abu Dhabi on Friday, 17 November at 2:00pm.

ICLDC, the region’s leading diabetes centre and part of Mubadala’s network of healthcare providers, is inviting the UAE to walk together and kick-start an active lifestyle in a fun and interactive way, with the support of the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, ADSC, and sister companies, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Healthpoint.

Walk 2017 aims to raise awareness on diabetes and encourage the community in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE to come together and #WalkOn towards a healthy lifestyle. The-5 km leisurely walk is expected to attract more than 20,000 people.

Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Director of Public Health at the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, said, "Creating awareness of chronic diseases and promoting the adoption of a healthy lifestyle amongst Abu Dhabi residents is one of the main objectives of the Department of Health. We believe diabetes and other similar chronic diseases need to be addressed through education, awareness and community engagement. Through collaborative partnerships such as ICLDC’s Walk 2017, we can unite our efforts to have a more profound impact on society."

Walk 2017 is one of the programmes of ICLDC’s ‘Diabetes.Knowledge.Action’ initiative that is now the longest-running public health awareness campaign in the country and promotes healthy lifestyle activities and events, while focusing on having a balanced diet, maintaining healthy body weight and engaging in daily exercise routines.

Commenting on the initiative, Lawrence Patrick, Chief Executive Officer at ICLDC, said, "The Walk was created by ICLDC to bring about a positive change in the Abu Dhabi community and encourage a proactive approach to preventing and tackling diabetes. Now in its 11th year, we take great pride in the extensive reach and impact this initiative has created in society. The initiative is a testament to our commitment as a community-focused health centre that approaches diabetes in a holistic way to create the best possible outcomes for society.

"Diabetes is a chronic condition that is becoming more and more prevalent. Walking may be one of the most basic forms of exercise but it is also a very effective form of activity for helping to reduce blood glucose levels. We encourage everyone to join us at Walk 2017 to take a positive step towards curbing the effects of diabetes on our society, and adopting a healthy and active lifestyle."

Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of ADSC, said, "ADSC is committed to creating a healthy and inclusive society. Year after year, the Walk has proven to be an educational and engaging activity that unites families and people across different ages. We are proud to participate in this initiative and encourage residents to take a positive step towards adopting an active lifestyle to overcome diabetes and live healthier lives."