First Annual “Healthy Heroes” Contest Kicks Off

National Program Sponsored by Sweet'N Low® to Celebrate the Courage of the 17 Million Americans Battling Diabetes

On August 7, the First Annual "Healthy Heroes" contest was introduced at the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) conference held in Philadelphia. This new event, the first of its kind, will recognize and honor people with diabetes who are displaying extraordinary courage and heroism in their daily battle with the ubiquitous disease, which now impacts one in 17 Americans.

Sponsored by Sweet'N Low®, the "Healthy Heroes" contest will be open to all adult Americans with Type I or II diabetes, together with their diabetes educators. The winners will be selected by a blue-chip panel of judges. Winners will be announced during National Diabetes Education Week on November 3-9, 2002. Both the winner and their diabetes educator will receive spa vacation and an all-expense-paid trip to New York City.

"Our goal for this new national program is to encourage the 17 million Americans with diabetes to take better control of their lives: to learn that they can achieve and often surpass their life goals after being diagnosed with the disease," said Marvin Eisenstadt, president of Cumberland Packing Corp., manufacturers of Sweet`N Low. "The 'Healthy Heroes' program is also designed to showcase the often unrecognized efforts of the more than 10,000 healthcare professionals who provide ongoing education and care to the diabetic community.

"With diabetes reaching epidemic proportions in this country, it's becoming increasingly important that Americans learn to make smart health choices. What better way to achieve this goal than for those who have developed successful coping strategies to share their knowledge with others -- particularly the rapidly growing numbers of children and teenagers at high risk for diabetes," he added.

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The "Healthy Heroes" contest is open to all men and women ages 18 and over who have:

  • Achieved and/or surpassed their life goals since being diagnosed with diabetes

  • Significantly transformed and/or improved their lives since being diagnosed with diabetes

  • Not only maintained their level of physical activity, but actually increased it

  • Taken on an educational role in their community, teaching others about the risk factors and showing them how to make smart health choices

  • Become active in the diabetes community, helping those with the disease learn more effective coping strategies

  • Displayed grace, dignity and courage in their daily battle with diabetes

Men and women with diabetes and their diabetes educators are encouraged to submit a brief essay describing the challenges they face and how they've overcome these obstacles in their daily battle with diabetes. The contest deadline is Wednesday, September 18, 2002. Postcards or letters should be submitted to: Healthy Heroes, 21218 St. Andrews Blvd., PMB 205, Boca Raton, FL 33433. Entries may also be sent by fax to 561-241-9679 or by e-mail: [email protected]. More details on the contest can be found on the Sweet'N Low Website: www.sweetnlow.com.

Sweet'N Low, sponsor of the "Healthy Heroes" contest, is manufactured by Cumberland Packing Corp., headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The Sweet'N Low ® Brand sugar substitute was introduced in the United States over 40 years ago and is now available in over 50 countries, making it the No. 1 sugar substitute in the world. As a result of this success, the Cumberland Packing Corp. has licensed the Sweet'N Low Brand name to manufacturers of sugar free and low sugar foods. These products meet the high standards of quality and taste that consumers have come to expect.

Source: Sweet ‘N Low