TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Denny Chimes on The University of Alabama campus will be lit blue Monday, Nov. 14 from sundown to midnight as a part of the World Diabetes Day monument challenge.
For the first time, the crimson bricks of the iconic UA landmark will be awash in blue to raise awareness of diabetes and World Diabetes Day. In 2010, more than 900 monuments and buildings in 84 countries were lit in blue Nov. 14.
Mary Elizabeth Halliday, a UA senior majoring in nutrition, approached Dr. Milla Boschung, dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, with a proposal to include Denny Chimes in the world-wide monument challenge.
“Someone I am very close to was diagnosed with diabetes, and I’ve seen the struggles he’s faced,” said Halliday. “One in 10 Alabamians has diabetes, and I want to bring attention to the growing epidemic.”
The World Health Organization estimates that more than 340 million people worldwide have diabetes, and the number could double by 2030.
Contact
Deidre Stalnaker, UA media relations, 205/348-4956, dstalnaker@ur.ua.edu
Source
Mary Elizabeth Halliday, student organizer, 205/394-9998, mehalliday@crimson.ua.edu; Dr. Jeannine Lawrence, assistant professor of human nutrition, 205/348-6252, jlawrence@ches.ua.edu