La Cala Lions get their marching orders to raise funds for diabetes awareness

The La Cala Lions' diabetes support group will host its annual sponsored walk and day of activities to mark World Diabetes Awareness Day (14 November) on Sunday 7 November. This will be the fifth year that the group has held the walk, although this year’s event will be extra special, because the group is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

As with many monuments and buildings around the globe, the town hall building in La Cala de Mijas will be illuminated in blue to raise awareness of the disease, which affects millions of people around the world.

This year’s theme is Access to Diabetes Care, a campaign that aims to ensure that medicine, technologies, support and care is available to all people with diabetes.

The Lions’ five-kilometre walk will begin in Plaza del Torreón (La Cala de Mijas) at 10am and will follow a route along the seafront promenade. The day will also offer various activities, such as Zumba and Pilates, while live entertainment will include a performance by the Drang Drummers and a flamenco dance show, among other things.

The group's nurses and volunteers will also be on hand to offer free glucose checks and advice and information about diabetes and how best to treat it.

There will also be a children’s play area, along with an artisan market with around 30 stalls selling everything from preserves and homemade cakes and biscuits, to arts and crafts, clothes, accessories and bric-a-brac.

Last year's event raised more than 3,000 euros, and the club is hoping to attract more participants in order to raise even more funds this year.