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Jelly
Babies Save Lives
20 April 2006
Anyone can make
a difference and help save lives during Jelly Baby Month this May.
It's easy - just look out for jelly baby themed merchandise in stores
across Australia. Every purchase will bring us closer to a cure
for diabetes.
Jelly Baby Month is run by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(JDRF). All the money raised from the sale of jelly baby products
will fund the best and most promising Australian research to find
a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
Research is
desperately needed - Australia has one of the highest rates of type
1 diabetes in the world, with more than 140,000 children and adults
suffering from the disease. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented
and as yet there is no cure.
But with your help a cure will be found. That's why JDRF are asking
Australians to help save lives and buy jelly baby products from
Woolworths and Safeway supermarkets, Amcal pharmacies and JDRF's
online store (www.jdrf.org.au) during May.
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Who:
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Anyone
can do their bit to fight type 1 diabetes by purchasing from
a fun range of jelly baby products during Jelly Baby Month. |
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What:
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Jelly
baby themed key rings, soft toys, pens, badges and of course,
confectionary. |
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Where:
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Woolworths,
Safeway, Amcal and JDRF's online store (www.jdrf.org.au). |
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When:
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Throughout
the month of May. |
Jelly babies
are the JDRF mascot as they can literally be a lifesaver for people
with type 1 diabetes. The sweet treat is often eaten by people with
the disease as a quick source of sugar when their blood sugar level
falls dangerously low.
JDRF CEO Mike
Wilson said, "Type 1 diabetes is the most serious form of diabetes
and occurs when the body's immune system turns on itself, removing
the ability to produce insulin.
"People
with type 1 diabetes need up to eight insulin injections every day
for the rest of their lives just to stay alive. Even with insulin,
diabetes can lead to devastating long term health complications.
Anyone can help save lives in May and bring us closer to a cure
by purchasing jelly baby merchandise."
For more
information about Jelly Baby Month or type 1 diabetes visit www.jdrf.org.au
or call 1300 363 126.
ENDS
For further
information:
Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au
About JDRF:
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the world's largest
not-for-profit supporter of diabetes research, investing $130 million
in the search to find a cure for type 1 diabetes each year. JDRF
was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes,
a disease which strikes people suddenly, makes them dependent on
multiple daily injections of insulin to survive and at risk of devastating
health complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease
and amputation.
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