Carlsbad Teen Encourages Residents to Standup Paddle for Diabetes

Ryan Maloney of Carlsbad was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age two. At age 13, the young athlete is found ways to raise more than $50,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

On Saturday, Maloney is encouraging locals to grab their Standup Paddleboards or rent one and meet for a group paddle at the Carlsbad Lagoon at 11 a.m.

No donations will be solicited, and there is no entry fee. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and support those with diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association’s website:

• 18.8 million people are living with Diabetes in the United States

• 7.0 million people have Diabetes but are undiagnosed

• 79 million people are pre-diabetic

• By 2050 30 percent of the U.S. population will have Diabetes

The official United Nations color for Diabetes is a shade of blue as is used on the United Nations Flag and many other United Nations symbols. Stand Up for Diabetes will embrace the same color and ask supporters and participants to wrap blue tape around their paddle shafts between the top handle and the center point. When you see this blue tape, know that it is the symbol for this movement.

More info on the event can also be found here:

hdxmix.com/go/2012/10/17/hdx-stands-up-for-diabetes-on-november-17th-for-national-diabetes-month/