On November 14th, 2007, in honour of UN World Diabetes Day, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead launched the Diabetes Prevention Research Centre to fight the disease. The Diavitiko Association, a registered charity that has worked tirelessly within the Greek community to help kids with diabetes for over 20 years, has funded the centre.
Diabetes is in the top 10 significant diseases in the developed world, there is currently no cure for Type 1 Diabetes and there is an unexplained increase in new cases. The condition can cause long-term problems, which can lead to blindness, kidney failure, chronic pain, foot amputations and even early death from heart disease.
Derived from the Greek word for diabetes, the Diavitiko Association was formed by a group of Greek women who have children with diabetes. Led by the president of the committee Maria Bouzanis, who decided an organised approach was needed when she realised the large number of Greek parents who also had children with diabetes. Having experienced just how much support the families of newly diagnosed children need, she was determined to address the lack of knowledge and understanding in the general community about the condition.
Diavitiko Association including committee members Gina Kondos, Jackie Dimitrakas, Katrina Monsweto and Claire Ciardi, has been instrumental in raising money for the Diabetes unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. For over 20 years they have organised countless fundraising events from tea parties and taverna nights to fashion parades, raffles and speech afternoons, to highly successful dinner dances. They have celebrated together and supported and educated each other, while raising much needed funds for further research and treatment. Their efforts have resulted in over half a million dollars in funds raised and have now culminated in the Diabetes Research Prevention Centre.
Mrs Bouzanis, accompanied by Mr Michalis Athanasiou, Chairman of Radiomarathon Australia, officially declared the prevention centre open. Radiomarathon is arguably part of the largest Hellenic fundraising initiatives in the world, which has supported Diavitiko for many years. Radiomarathon’s fundraising is organised by the Laiki Bank, which is also headed by General Manager Mr Athanasiou, in what is a highly successful display of community and corporate interaction for the benefit of children with special needs.
Associate Professor Chris Cowell, Head of Research at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead explained how important the Centre is.
“Prevention is vital as Diabetes is on the increase and we need to understand this disease better. Without the help and support of Mrs Maria Bouzanis, the Diavitiko Association, Laiki Bank’s Radiomarathon and all the volunteers and supporters of Diavitiko, this centre would not be ready today and on behalf of the Diabetes team and the children, we would like to say thank you so much”.
The Diabetes Clinic at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead was established in 1950 and is the largest paediatric endocrine unit in Australia. It treats over 50 percent of children with Diabetes in NSW and offers a Diabetes Complications Assessment Service across the state. The unit sees 1,000 patients at the Hospital with a further 500 in Outreach clinics. About 120 new patients are seen per year and 20 percent of these children are under five years of age.
The Hospital currently leads the way in paediatric endocrine clinical research in Australia. The launch of the new Diabetes Prevention Research Centre will allow national and international research into causes and prevention of Diabetes.
For further information on the Diavitiko Association please call Maria Bouzanis MB: 0412 290 546
