Rotary and BVI Diabetes Association - a "healthy combination"
Kicked off in September 2004 on the initiative of Past Rotary President Elton Georges, the Rotary Club of Tortola recently held its 7th annual Slim-a-thon, better known as "Lose to win". The idea is that Rotarians and non-Rotarians, who are signing up are weighed around September and pledge to lose a certain amount of pounds in about 12-14 weeks. They are going to their friends and associates with forms, collecting pledges as how much the person is willing to give for each pound lost. After the last weighing the pledges are calculated and collected. What ever is collected by the "losers" is matched by the Rotary Club and then donated to the BVI Diabetes Association. Over the past seven years close to $50,000.00 have been donated, with the most recent cheque last week in the amount of $10,486.70.
This money is urgently needed to help the BVI DA to assist people without insurance to get much needed insulin and also to purchase equipment and educational material for their "Dr. Jana Downing Diabetes Resource Centre" in 54 Main Street, which is open daily from 9:00am to 4:00pm for free Blood Sugar, Cholesterol and other testing.
Needless to say that the "losers" are living a much healthier life. Over the 7 years some have lost as much as 30 pounds in one session and a total of over 2,000 pounds have been lost by the participants.
At the start of the programme in 2004 Rotarian Elton Georges explained, that he got that idea from the International Rotary Magazine and therefore emphasised on the importance of being part of an International Network.
The Rotary Club of Tortola was chartered on 5th January 1968 with 20 members; three of which are still today active members: Past President Hon. Ralph T.O'Neal, Dr. Robin Tattersall and Stanley Gordon. The Club meets every Thursday at 12:00noon at The Moorings-Mariner Inn Restaurant
Photo by Astrid C. Wenzke - from left: Past Rotary President Elton Georges, President of the BVI DA Bennet Smith, who gladly accepted the cheque and Past Assistant Rotary Governor Gerard St. Clair Farara. Rotarian Farara also presented a sign for the office of the Resources Centre: "Supported by the Rotary Club of Tortola".
