CHINOOK, Mont. (NMB) – The first annual Diabetes Beatdown is set for Saturday morning at the Blaine County Fairgrounds.
There will be a five mile, three mile, and one mile race, with prizes awarded to the fastest man and woman in each. The first race begins at 9 am and there is no limit on the number of participants.
Sweet Medical Center Nurse Practitioner Lindsay Rucinsky is the organizer of this event and says she is committed to making sure the Hi-Line is better educated on diabetes.
“The impact that diabetes has in our community and the surrounding Hi-Line is incredible. The lack of education that comes with diabetes, because there isn’t many diabetic educators,” Rucinsky says. “You have to do tele-health, or you have to travel all the way to Great Falls or Billings for that. So we lack a lot in the ability to educate.”
That’s why Rucinsky says the money raised from this event will go towards developing diabetes education programs at the Sweet Medical Center in Chinook and the satellite clinic in Harlem.
“Overall it just brings so much more awareness to the disease process too,” Rucinsky says. “Because people might be like, ‘Oh, I haven’t been to the doctor in quite some time and I have a strong family history I could be at risk for that.’ And then we actually catch somebody who has progressed diabetes and can turn their life around when there is still time.”
Streatery and Bikini Coffee will be serving food and beverages. Registration will be available the morning of the race, and all participants will receive a free t-shirt and swag bag. To sign up in advance, visit the event website.
