Call for Local Businesses

By The Franklin Lakes Journal

Published: August 6, 2009

NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES OFFERED FREE PUBLICITY AT LOCAL WALKS
The American Diabetes Association asks business owners to join the Step Out-Walk to Fight Diabetes

Bridgewater, NJ (Aug. 3, 2009) — The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is challenging business owners across the state to participate in the Step Out-Walk to Fight Diabetes, an event to raise funds to help fight diabetes. Recognizing the strain the economy has put on many business’ marketing and advertising budgets, the New Jersey ADA office is offering a new way for companies to promote their business with no direct cost to the organization.

As part of the “100 for $1000 Challenge,” the American Diabetes Association is offering a complimentary table at one New Jersey walk’s Diabetes Community Forum (usually reserved only for sponsors) for any corporate team able to fund-raise $1000 or more by September 25, 2009. The Community Forum table can be used to hand out promotional items and information to all event participants. All funds raised at the Step Out events will go to support the Association’s mission — to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

The Step Out-Walk to Fight Diabetes event routes average approximately one mile and are accessible to people of all ages and levels of mobility. The event draws a large contingency of individuals and teams, comprised of families, friends, and corporations, all raising money in support of the ADA. This year, 2800 walkers are expected to attend the four walks in New Jersey. Locations include Franklin Lakes, Morristown, Princeton and Bridgewater and take place the first four Sundays in October.

“A friend told me about the Step Out –Walk to Fight Diabetes and, that year, I put together a team and walked for the first time. The next year, I walked with my team once again. In those two years, we raised over $20,000,” said Amy Hunt, 2009 Teen Ambassador for the ADA. Amy was diagnosed with diabetes when she was only 12 years old and now she walks to help others with diabetes. “Though my life changed, I can’t help but think that it was for the better because today, I am more involved in community service and fundraising than I ever was before,” she said.

For more information or to register for the American Diabetes Association’s Step Out-Walk to Fight Diabetes, please call 732-469-7979 or visit www.diabetes.org/stepout.