The Dorothy Marie Kinnard Foundation (DMKF), established in 2012 to raise awareness of diabetes disparities, will present the 2nd annual ‘FunFitness Dance Exercise’ event on Saturday, July 9, at 11 am at Camp Widgiwagan located at 3088 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, Tenn. 37013.
This year’s FunFitness Dance Exercise theme is ‘Glide to the Cha Cha Slide.’ It will have a guest appearance by DJ Casper, author of the international hit song, as hundreds of participants join in solidarity to a live choreographed routine by one of the former Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders. The purpose of the event is to promote health, wellness, and exercise, major components in combating Type II Diabetes. The event is free and open to the public and will include vendors, cooking demos, sampling free refreshments, free convenient parking, and a host of adult and kid activities for a day of engaging fun, education, and much more.
“We are committed to spreading awareness on diabetes prevention through the foundation and would like to invite the Nashville community to come out and take part in a fun and worthwhile cause,” said Rhea Kinnard, president/founder of the organization. “Because diabetes disproportionately affects people of color, particularly African Americans, the foundation is committed to promoting education and arming attendees with pertinent information that can help de-escalate the alarming rise of this debilitating disease.”
The foundation partners with other organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, Meharry Medical College, and Tennessee Health Disparity Task Force, among others. It works to spread awareness through its outreach initiatives. This year’s event sponsors include Healthcare/TriStar Health, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, 353 Media Group, WQQK 92 Q Radio, and Early Eats among others.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 40 million people now have diabetes and 90 million are at risk of developing it. Moreover, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. This has come with a staggering cost in excess of $375 billion annually and continues to climb, as more people develop the disease. Diabetes is now one of the fastest growing diseases among African Americans. It affects youth, women, and the elderly at disproportionate rates—more than any other ethnic group.
The mission of the Dorothy Marie Kinnard Foundation is to serve as a platform to raise awareness and spotlight problem-solving techniques designed to help African Americans better manage diabetes as well as help decrease the number of African Americans who are at risk of developing the disease.
For more information regarding the Dorothy Marie Kinnard Foundation, visit <www.dmkf.org>.
