INDIANAPOLIS, November 18 /PRNewswire/ --
-- Global contest seeks expressions of the triumphs and challenges of living with diabetes through art, essays, poetry and photographs
Eli Lilly and Company, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) today announced the global launch of the Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition, a global art contest asking people with diabetes, as well as their families, friends and caregivers, to express how diabetes has impacted their lives. This is the competition's second year.
The Inspired by Diabetes competition (www.inspiredbydiabetes.com) seeks expressions of the diabetes journey through art, essays, poetry and photographs. Children or adults inspired by the triumphs and challenges of dealing with diabetes or those who care for them are encouraged to enter the contest. More than 800 entries were received from around the world during the first year of the competition.
"We were humbled by the response to the campaign and the depth of personal experiences communicated in the stories and art work during the first call for submissions," said Thomas Danne, president of ISPAD. This past September, the grand prize winners of the 2007-08 Inspired by Diabetes contest were recognized in Rome during the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
The spirit of Inspired by Diabetes is to bring families and people with diabetes together to raise awareness about the global burden of diabetes and draw particular attention to people who do not have the resources they need to fight the disease.
People who enter the contest receive two "blue circle" diabetes pins, representing the global symbol of diabetes. For each set of pins distributed, one US Dollar will be donated to the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program, which provides life-saving diabetes supplies to more than 1100 children in 18 developing countries.
"This competition provides a welcome opportunity for people affected by diabetes everywhere to connect. Through various forms of self-expression it is possible to gain a little more understanding of how this disease impacts the individual, the family and the community," said Dr. Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation. "By supporting the Inspired by Diabetes competition, people can show they care and help support some of the close to 75,000 children living with diabetes in desperate circumstances."
"Lilly Diabetes is proud to support the second year of this wonderful competition," said Carlos Paya, vice president, Lilly Research Laboratories and leader of the Lilly Global Diabetes and Endocrine Platform. "Inspired by Diabetes represents the fundamental belief of Lilly Diabetes that each individual living with diabetes is on a unique journey and through this competition and the art of those who enter, we can help share these stories with others throughout the world."
Contest Information
To enter the Inspired by Diabetes contest, people can visit www.inspiredbydiabetes.com to download a submission form and review the contest's rules and regulations. Entries into the global competition must be received by March 31, 2009.
For each winner, a donation will be made to the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program. The two global grand-prize winners will receive a trip to attend the formal exhibition of winning entries at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria, which takes place between September 27 and October 1, 2009. Each winner also receives a trophy and the winning entries will be shown on the global Inspired by Diabetes website at www.inspiredbydiabetes.com.
Participant Categories
Participant categories in the Inspired by Diabetes contest are:
-- Children (ages under 18)
-- Adult (ages 18 and older)
Entries may be submitted in the following format categories:
-- Short essay or poem - 500 words or less
-- Photograph(s) - Up to three prints
-- Original drawing or painting - no larger than 43cm x 66cm
To learn more about Inspired by Diabetes and how to enter the Creative Expression Competition, please visit: www.inspiredbydiabetes.com.
About Unite for Diabetes and the International Diabetes Federation
Unite for Diabetes is a global campaign committed to raising awareness of diabetes and celebrating the United Nations' World Diabetes Day Resolution, which established the global agenda for the fight against the diabetes pandemic and designated 14 November (World Diabetes Day) as an official UN world day as of 2007. World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in response to the escalating rise in diabetes.
The Unite for Diabetes and World Diabetes Day campaigns are led by the International Diabetes Federation, a worldwide alliance of over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. For more information, visit www.unitefordiabetes.org.
About the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD)
The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) is a professional organization whose aims are to promote clinical and basic science, education, and advocacy in childhood and adolescent diabetes. The strength of ISPAD lies in the scientific and clinical expertise in childhood and adolescent diabetes of its members.
ISPAD is the only international society focusing specifically on all types of childhood diabetes.
For more information, please visit www.ispad.org.
About Lilly Diabetes
For more than 85 years, Lilly has been a worldwide leader in pioneering industry-leading solutions to support people living with and treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923 and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also committed to providing solutions beyond therapy -- practical tools, education and support programs to help overcome barriers to success along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journeys of each person living with or treating diabetes inspire ours.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.
P--LLY
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