KMBZ Wellness Van on site to deliver Diabetes Screenings

Mills, host of popular radio newsmagazine Living Large, lost her mother to diabetes last year. So when the American Diabetes Association approached Karen about stepping up to the microphone and getting the word out about diabetes it was an easy decision.

“Part of Living Large is giving back to the community not just expensive cars and big houses. It’s about family, friends and helping out,” says Mills who is joined in studio by the community development team that is producing the event.

Kristal Pekarek, project leader from the American Diabetes Association says, “One of the best ways to help control blood sugar levels is to increase physical activity so this walk is a wonderful opportunity to do that.”

And not very painful at that. It’s a scenic 3-mile stroll through corporate woods during one of the most beautiful times of the year and, after the walk is complete, participants have a delicious breakfast, proving that good works and good health can be quite satisfying especially with Radio Disney for kids with games, music and entertainment.

Pekarek has also worked with her team at the American Diabetes Association under executive director Patrick Ayers to create a new health and wellness festival. The KMBZ wellness van will be on site providing free diabetes screenings with healthcare professionals hired by Computer Masters to help in early detection.

All the funds that are raised go to support diabetes research, education and advocacy. The American Diabetes Association expects to raise $100,000 at this year’s event on September 23, 2006.

Mike Cleveland, CEO of Computer Masters wants to help raise awareness of diabetes while there is still time to prevent it. He says most people today know someone who has diabetes including members of his own family.

Joe Cummings, co-owner of Cummings Contracting created a competition between the managers at his company who each developed their version of the ultimate dog house for doggie rest stops where walker’s dogs can get food, water and snacks from Three Dog Bakery. After the walk, Cummings will auction off the custom doghouses and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Diabetes Association.

When Mills presses for more details prior to the event, Cummings shrugs his shoulders and says, “Dogs love surprises.” He does disclose that there will be a doggie rest stop every mile.

If current healthcare trends continue, 1 in 3 children born in year 2000 will develop diabetes by 2050, warns Pekarek. “When we think of being 50 years old today we worry about heart disease stroke, kidney failure. It used to be we didn’t have to worry until we were in our 70’s. Now if don’t start turning things around kids at 30 will suffer from heart attacks and strokes.”

Living Large executive producer Andrew Ellenberg is directing the marketing communications and publicity campaign for the American Diabetes Association on KMBZ and classical station KXTR.

Ellenberg says this alliance between business, media and the non-profit world is a model for social responsibility in Kansas City and around the nation. “Computer masters and Cummings Contracting demonstrate that companies can do well while doing great things for the community,” he says.