JDRF Canada Celebrates World Diabetes Day by Turning the World Blue

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - November 13, 2015) - On November 14, 2015, millions of people around the world will mark World Diabetes Day (WDD), honouring the birthday of Dr. Frederick G. Banting, the Canadian co-discoverer of insulin, as part of an international campaign to raise public awareness about this chronic disease. JDRF Canada is celebrating this day in conjunction with its National Diabetes Awareness Month (NDAM) campaign 'T1D Looks Like Me' which is proudly supported by Bayer Contour Next.

JDRF supporters from across the country will be celebrating WDD. From big gala events to community events, and everything in between, Canadians will join together to make an impact on the future of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Monuments across the country, including the CN Tower in Toronto, will be lit blue in honour of WDD. This disease affects so many Canadians and JDRF Canada is working to ensure that the history of diabetes discovery in Canada continues by funding the best and brightest researchers.

"The discovery of insulin was a remarkable breakthrough and has mitigated the fatalities of diabetes," said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. "Since then JDRF funded research has transformed how people live with T1D, but we can do better. JDRF is committed to improving the lives of all people affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for preventing, curing, and better treating the disease."

Learn how you can make an impact on the lives of over 300,000 Canadians by raising awareness and funds towards finding a cure for T1D and its complications from the 'T1D Looks Like Me' campaign. You can discover remarkable stories of the Canadian T1D community on; facebook.com/JDRFCanada, Twitter: @JDRF_Canada, the jdrf.ca/blog and Instagram: @JDRF_Canada. Canadians are also encouraged to engage with the community, share our stories as well as their own using the hashtag #T1DLooksLikeMe.

For more information about JDRF, WDD and the NDAM campaign and how to participate, please go to www.jdrf.ca/NDAM.

About JDRF Canada:

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF Canada is built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on an international stage to pool resources, passion and energy. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested nearly $2 billion since our inception. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers in more than 100 locations around the world are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

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