9 May 2008

Monikie 10km race for Diabetes Research Campaign
- Saturday May 10th

Photo opportunities: Race start - 11 am, South entrance Monikie Country Park (500m from main entrance)
Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville will set the runners on the their way

Presentations - 12.15 - 12.30 approx, Finish line near Countryside Ranger station, Provost Melville to present prizes to winners

Around 250 runners are expected to take part in the inaugural Monikie 10km Race on Saturday May 10th, which is being staged in support of the University of Dundee’s Diabetes Research Campaign.

The Diabetes Research Campaign is aiming to raise £3million towards state of the art research and patient care facilities across Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross, adding to the world-class diabetes research programmes which are already well-established through the University and NHS Tayside. The campaign has already raised over £1.7m towards the overall target.

The Monikie 10km race has been organised by Eventfull Management Limited and is supported by Angus Council.

Nicholas Kydd, event race organiser for Eventfull, is himself diabetic, after being diagnosed just over 5 years ago. "We are delighted to be supporting the University’s efforts to tackle diabetes through world-class research," said Nicholas. "This is a personal issue for me and to have the chance to help boost the research effort is great."

Diabetes is now the fastest growing epidemic in the developed world. It is estimated that more than 300 million people worldwide will suffer from the disease by 2020 and the disease has been recognised by the United Nations as the greatest threat to world health.

In Tayside there has been a 90% increase in the incidence of diabetes in the last 9 years and the need to develop clinical research facilities across Tayside is urgent. The Diabetes Research Campaign aims to provide the facilities and technology to enable scientists and doctors to work together to develop better and more effective treatments and to devise preventative strategies for the disease.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk