'First Ladies' Challenged To Increase Diabetes Awareness In 2nd Annual Health & Wellness Tea

May 5, 2011 - PRLog -- ‘FIRST LADIES’ OR THEIR CHURCH REPRESENTATIVE FROM MORE THAN 100 PHILADELPHIA AREA CONGREGATIONS (THAT’S MORE THAN 20,000 MEMBERS)  are expected to attend a special health and wellness tea on Saturday May 14, 2011 at 11am at Mother Bethel AME Church (http://www.motherbethel.org)  located at 419 S. 6th Streets in Philadelphia.  This is the second annual First Ladies Health & Wellness Tea sponsored by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Last year more than 75 area congregations took part in the event that challenged the First Ladies to go back to their churches and start diabetes education and outreach programming.  “Five million African-Americans have diabetes and one third of them don’t even know they have it,” says Michelle Foster Program Director for the local the American Diabetes Association. “It has become an epidemic in our communities and our goal with this event is to increase awareness through fun and interactive programming in African American churches.”  The local ADA is bringing in Max “Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek (http://www.divabetic.org) who worked for years as Luther Vandross’ Personal Assistant.  Upon Mr. Vandross’ death, Szadek founded “Divabetic,” a non-profit Diabetes Education and Outreach effort that teaches women how to live well with Diabetes.  “Having Diabetes doesn’t mean suffering with it,” says Szadek.  “You can make small adjustments in your daily diabetes self-care routine that can help you to live like a diva!” The tea will outline specific steps the First Ladies can take to incorporate diabetes outreach and education into their ministries. The tea will also feature a Celebrity Hat Fashion Show with some of the latest spring hat fashions from NStyle Boutique in Berlin, NJ. The models are radio, TV and newspaper personalities from the Philadelphia region. Local Pastors will also teach the First Ladies an innovative technique called “Motion & Devotion” which incorporates exercise into the period before church filled with praise and worship. There will also be healthy food provided by EJ Fisher, “The Dollar Diva”, along with various teas by “Tea Country,” and a speed-boxing competition with a free hat giveaway. Mother Bethel’s First Lady Leslie Tyler helped launch this personal crusade to educate everyone about the importance of managing diabetes after watching her parents and other family members suffer with the disease.“Seeing my loved ones give them selves shots, slip into near comas and having limbs amputated was enough for me to change my diet and be vigilant about serving healthy foods in my home,” says Tyler.  Now she’s hoping to inspire churches to do the same for Sunday Church dinners.  
The event is free for First Ladies or their church representative.  Space is limited so you must RSVP by calling Michelle Foster at the American Diabetes Association at (610) 828-5003 ext 4643.  Or you can email your RSVP to mfoster@diabetes.org.
All media inquiries should be directed to Leslie Patterson-Tyler of Tyler-Made Productions at Leslie@TylerMadePR.com or (609) 247-2632.

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