2009 is an important year for Diabetes UK as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Cicada will continue to work closely with the charity in the Northern and Yorkshire region to raise awareness of the serious condition and publicise a number of high-profile events. 

Amongst the events taking place in the region are a poetry competition, a mass participation walk and the Great North Run. The charity hopes to raise £7.5 million this year to help fund research to find a cure, whilst supporting those people living with diabetes.

Maintaining an active lifestyle is just one of the charity’s key messages for 2009 and thousands of people are expected to take part in the first ever ‘Well Walk’ on Sunday 26 April at Temple Newsam, near Leeds. Cicada has secured Diabetes UK’s first media partnership with the Yorkshire Evening Post and will continue to raise awareness of the event through a variety of channels.

Cicada recently worked with Diabetes UK to launch its love-themed ‘Rhyme for a Reason’ poetry competition in partnership with The Star in Sheffield. Entries will be judged by the renowned Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan and the winning poem will be performed by its author on stage with the Ian McMillan Orchestra at Sheffield Hallam University, on Saturday 14 February 2009.

Cicada will also be supporting Diabetes UK’s involvement in this year’s Great North Run for the third time. The charity is hoping for a record year with over 1,000 people running to support people with diabetes across the UK

Cicada has worked with Diabetes UK Northern and Yorkshire since July 2007.
Managing director, Di Burton said: “I am really pleased that we continue to help promote Diabetes UK’s ongoing campaigns across Yorkshire and the North East and we are looking forward to this year’s exciting events.”

Linda Wood, regional manager for Diabetes UK said: “In this celebratory year we are delighted to have Cicada on hand to support our fundraising teams. Their work helps to raise the profile of the charity – which in turn attracts more fundraising efforts from the region.

“Cicada’s work also helps us to continue raising awareness of diabetes. There are an estimated 55,000 people in Yorkshire and Humber who have the condition but do not know it so it is essential that people learn about the condition and how they can take steps to prevent it.”