ATLANTA (PRWEB)
May 08, 2020

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, is excited to announce that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Novo Nordisk’s 15-year signature 5K@ADA Run/Walk event is transitioning into a virtual challenge and all Team Novo Nordisk athletes, ambassadors, and staff will participate in the global event.

The diabetes community is resilient, COVID-19 won’t stop us from thriving. Together, we are connected for life. In support of the 5K@ADA Run/Walk, Team Novo Nordisk has officially added the event to its race calendar.

“The 5K@ADA Run/Walk has been dear to our hearts since its launch. Over the years, Team Novo Nordisk’s athletes have proudly been an instrumental part of the 5K in aspects from winning the event to serving as pacers embedded in the community because this event perfectly aligns with our mission to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes,” said Phil Southerland, Team Novo Nordisk CEO and Co-Founder. “The 5K@ADA serves as the ideal representation of how Team Novo Nordisk and Novo Nordisk partner around the challenge to make the world a healthier place. This event allows our team and Novo Nordisk to lead by example, actively live our mission, and collectively participate in some good, healthy fun. Together, we are game changers in the diabetes field.”

For 15 years, the 5K@ADA has been an official event during ADA’s Scientific Sessions and has brought together over 13,400 participants. Through the continued support of Novo Nordisk, the 2020 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge is free of charge to all participants. Everyone is encouraged to sign up, lace up and head out the door, right from their home over the weekend of June 12-14, coinciding with the ADA Virtual Scientific Sessions.

“While COVID-19 has stopped us from racing and prevented us from gathering together in Chicago, it doesn’t stop us from being ambassadors for the diabetes community and encouraging people to dream big and keep chasing their goals,” Southerland said. “Physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices are essential for everyone–both those living with and without diabetes–and the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge is an ideal way to exercise together.”

To mark the 15th anniversary of Novo Nordisk’s support of the 5K@ADA, the ADA published the 5K@ADA mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Complete with interactive experiences, including training plans for walking and running, a selfie station and social media integration, the 5K@ADA app has all the information to participate in the Virtual Challenge.

“Events like the 5K@ADA help us remain connected to members of our community, it also encourages regular physical activity which is an important part of better diabetes management,” said Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association. “This is a big year for us at the ADA. We are celebrating several milestones: our 80th Scientific Sessions and the 15th anniversary of Novo Nordisk’s 5K@ADA run/walk event. I challenge the ADA Scientific Sessions community and all ADA members to participate in the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge.”

“Together with ADA, we are pleased to announce the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge. We had hoped to gather in Chicago and celebrate several milestones with ADA: the 80th Scientific Sessions and the 15th anniversary of Novo Nordisk’s partnership with the 5K@ADA,” said Thomas Thestrup-Terp, VP of Commercial Operation, Novo Nordisk. “While we won’t be gathering in person, I know that we will gather in spirit.”

Physical activity, including walking, is an important tool in diabetes management, which helps people living with diabetes lead healthier lives. For the more than 122 million Americans with diabetes and prediabetes, it takes perseverance to live with and manage their health on a daily basis. The 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge brings together people across the globe to emphasize the need for increased physical activity to help prevent diabetes and diabetes complications. This awareness activity provides participants with the opportunity to raise public awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle in preventing and managing diabetes.

To sign up for the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge, please visit https://www.ada5k.com/ and remember registration is free!

About Team Novo Nordisk

Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists spearheaded by the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team. In 2012, Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of the team, and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, came together to create Team Novo Nordisk, based on a shared vision to inspire, educate and empower people around the world affected by diabetes. For more information, go to http://www.teamnovonordisk.com.

About the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge

Join ADA and Novo Nordisk for the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge anytime during June 12 – 14, 2020. The 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge brings together people across the globe and ADA members and Scientific Sessions attendees to emphasize the need for increased physical activity to help prevent diabetes and diabetes complications. Take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle by registering at http://www.ada5k.com or visiting Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the free 5K@ADA mobile app to connect with the 5K@ADA community from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

About the American Diabetes Association

Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. Nearly 115 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

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