The first “Race for a Cause” will be held on Saturday October 29, 2011 at the College’s Virgin Gorda Centre in partnership with the Virgin Gorda Diabetes Association and the Valley Sound Lions Club. The event will include free blood sugar and blood pressure testing, as well as a number of educational activities aimed at increasing awareness about the disease and how it can be prevented and treated.

The Tortola leg of the HLSCC Race for a Cause, which will be held in collaboration with the BVI Diabetes Association (BVIDA), is slated for Saturday November 12, 2011 at the College’s main Campus in Paraquita Bay. Both events are part of the HLSCC-Highland Spring 2011 race series, which began last month.

Reflecting on last year’s partnership with the BVI Cancer Society, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at HLSCC Stephanie Russ-Penn said she is looking forward to strong support from the wider community, both in terms of financial contributions and participation in the race.

“We are hoping that athletes on Tortola and Virgin Gorda would be ambassadors for this campaign, a worthy cause in the BVI and beyond,” said Ms. Russ Penn. Ms. Russ-Penn, who also serves as Race Director for the series, urged faculty, staff and students at HLSCC to support the event by coming out on race day, as well as by giving generously to the cause. She said the college welcomes such an opportunity to be part of a territory-wide initiative, which is ultimately in support of a global campaign to raise funds for the fight against diabetes.

Public Relations Officer of the BVIDA Sasha Lake explained, “In the Caribbean, 20 percent of the total population is affected with diabetes, while in the BVI the figure is around 15 percent.”

However, she added, “both these percentages are likely higher in reality.” The College is also encouraging schools, businesses, Government departments and non-governmental organisations to support the fund raising drive.

For more information about the Race for a Cause or how to make financial contributions, Ms. Russ-Penn can be contacted on 852-7216.