ATLANTA, Ga., March 3, 2010 - Today the Georgia Senate passed SR 962 "Recognizing NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins as Georgia's Diabetes Ambassador."
Statistics indicate a clear need for education and action. SR 962 references that the number of people with diabetes in Georgia has increased by 20 percent over five years to more than 715,000 individuals. Without action this number could more than double over the next 20 years.
Wilkins is a great example of someone who successfully manages his diabetes and lives an extremely active life. He is currently the vice president of basketball for the Atlanta Hawks and a sportscaster on Sportsouth and FSN South. Committed to support programs that promote youth fitness and healthy lifestyles, he recently entered into a relationship with 24 Hour Fitness, the largest privately owned U.S. fitness chain to operate a series of youth basketball camps in Austin, Texas and Honolulu, Hawaii summer 2010.
"I am so proud to be the Georgia Diabetes Ambassador" states Wilkins. "From my own experience, I know how scary it is to hear the words 'you have diabetes.' But the good news is there is so much you can do to manage it if you have it, and even more importantly eat right and exercise so you don't develop it."
In addition to the opportunities that present themselves in his sports role, Wilkins already has an impressive record on this subject. He has served as an ambassador for Novo Nordisk's "Changing Diabetes" campaign, testified before Congress on the need of a national strategy to help reduce diabetes, and he works very closely with the Center for Health Transformation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to help those affected by diabetes.
For more information on the Wilkins role as Georgia Diabetes Ambassador and his involvement with other youth and diabetes related programs visit www.niquehoops.com
Contact:
Kim Hafley
517-371-8112
khafley@fosterswift.com
