Red Sox Slugger Wily Mo Pena on Base for Joslin Diabetes Center
January 17, 2007
Digg This! | Send to Newsvine | Add to del.icio.usJanuary 17, 2007 (Joslin) -- Boston Red Sox Wily Mo Pena is teaming up with Joslin Diabetes Center's Latino Diabetes Initiative for the Beisbol y Salud Diabetes Awareness Project. Pena will host this program in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 20-21 and in Boston this spring to raise diabetes awareness in the Latino population. Several other Major League Baseball players will join Pena in the Dominican Republic for the project, which includes a softball game that is sure to be a highlight of the event. The two-day program is being coordinated by Wily Mo Pena's newly formed MoPeace Foundation, which aims to give back to those in need. This particular project will focus on the Latino community, which is at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The goal of the Beisbol y Salud Diabetes Awareness Project is to educate Latino men, women and children about type 2 diabetes and encourage them to improve their health through nutrition and exercise.
During the event, Enrique Caballero, M.D., Director of Joslin's Latino Diabetes Initiative (LDI), will talk about type 2 diabetes management and prevention in the Latino community. Several other staff members from Joslin's Latino Diabetes Initiative will travel to the Dominican Republic to participate in the project.
They will conduct workshops for adults and children affected by diabetes, as well as training sessions for Dominican providers about the latest in diabetes research and treatment. Spanish-language diabetes education materials, including Joslin's recently produced educational CD, the audio-novella Rosa's Story, will be available for participants.
"Combating diabetes is a cause close to my heart and to my family's because so many of us have been touched negatively by this horrible disease," said Wily Mo Pena. "Any strength we can lend to the fight is our privilege, and we are honored to work with Joslin Diabetes Center."
Other Major League Baseball players scheduled to participate in the two-day event, including the softball game, are Rafael Soriano (Atlanta Braves), Robinson Cano (New York Yankees), Alfonso Soriano (Chicago Cubs), Melky Cabrera (New York Yankees), T.J. Pena (Atlanta Braves), Edwin Encarnacion (Cincinnati Reds), Sendy Rleal (Baltimore Orioles) and Joel Guzman (Tampa Bay Devil Rays).
Joslin's Latino Diabetes Initiative is thrilled to collaborate with Wily Mo Pena and The MoPeace Foundation on such a significant program for a population at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Caballero. "At Joslin, the LDI provides culturally competent diabetes care, research and education to its patients, and we look forward to bringing this to Latino patients and providers in the Dominican Republic."
This project was made possible through the generosity of Abbott Laboratories. Additional sponsorship has been provided by the Fireman Foundation, Majestic Uniforms, Roche Diagnostics and GlaxoSmithKline.
Posted by dlife at January 17, 2007 09:03 AM
Comments
A great cause and a good man to help spread awareness.
Go Wily Mo www.sluggerwily.com
Posted by: Daniel at August 27, 2007 03:48 PM