Lyfebulb Announces Central Park Kickboxing Class with Punch Fitness to Raise Diabetes Awareness and Support
NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) May 13, 2016 -- Lyfebulb, a unique global healthcare firm that harnesses the dynamic power of patients to improve the lives of all those affected by chronic disease, announced that Punch Fitness personal trainer and professional boxer Villi Bello will be leading a mix boxing/kickboxing class in Central Park on May 19th at 6 p.m. to help raise awareness about the importance of exercise in preventing and treating diabetes, which afflicts more than 29 million people in the U.S. and 400 million worldwide.
The Punch Out Diabetes! class will be attended by around 20 people, some of whom suffer from diabetes, who will also be raising money to advance the fight against the disease by getting sponsors to support their class participation on the fundraising and community mobilization platform Classy at https://www.classy.org/new-york/events/punch-out-diabetes/e77092.
The class will take place at Cleopatra’s Needle Obelisk at East 81st Street behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “We wanted to hold this Punch Out Diabetes! class in Central Park to get the word out about how critical exercise is in the management and prevention of diabetes,” said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, founder and CEO of Lyfebulb who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 16, and has had both kidney and pancreas transplants.
“Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by up to 40 percent, and significantly improves sugar control in those with diabetes,” she said. “We urge the public to come out to support the Punch Out Diabetes! participants in Central Park on May 19th and to sponsor them online to help raise the critical funds needed to advance the fight against diabetes and reduce the number of people who are at risk. Awareness, education, innovation, and advocacy can change the devastating course of this disease.”
A portion of the funds raised from the Punch Out Diabetes! event will go to Insulin for Life USA, an organization that provides insulin supplies free of charge to children and adults in developing countries who would otherwise not have access to this life-saving medication.
Bello, who has a black belt in judo, a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is also a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing fighter, said he is thrilled to be partnering with Lyfebulb because of the vital work the organization does in helping people with chronic disease live healthier lives. “Helping others to lose weight, get stronger and be the best that they can be physically and mentally is always my main goal. I am honored to partner with an organization that is doing so much to reduce the staggering rate of diabetes in this country.”
Dr. Hehenberger, who previously held executive roles at public biotechnology companies such as Coronado Biosciences and Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, and served as senior vice president for Strategic Alliances at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said she partnered with Bello and Punch Fitness for the class because she “absolutely adores” the specialized gym.
“After an hour of working out at Punch Fitness, I feel better in every way, not just my physical being but my mental being. The concept is pretty simple – it involves CrossFit training and boxing. I think the punching in and of itself is good for people who have some sort of adversity in their lives. And I think we all do in some sense.”
More than 400 million people have diabetes worldwide and over 300 million more are at risk of developing the disease. In the U.S. alone, over 29 million people suffer from diabetes and another 86 million are pre-diabetic. One third of pre-diabetics will develop the disease and more than 25 percent of people with diabetes don’t even know they have it. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, blindness and non-traumatic amputations, and individuals suffering from diabetes have two to four times the risk of heart disease and stroke.
ABOUT LYFEBULB: Lyfebulb is a patient-centric organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic disease. Lyfebulb hosts in-person educational networking events that connect a growing community of people affected by chronic diseases including diabetes, autoimmune diseases and cancer to doctors and other medical thought leaders, media, investors, business executives and entrepreneurs.
Through its website and social media, an active blog, informative newsletter and videos featuring medical and advocacy experts, Lyfebulb provides an online community where people affected by chronic disease connect to learn from one another and inspire change that will impact quality of life concerns. Lyfebulb also identifies companies that make a difference in the lives of people living with chronic disease and selectively partners with companies aligned with its mission.
Anna hehenberger, Lyfebulb, http://lyfebulb.com, +1 203-434-0018, [email protected]
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