The Lindo’s Group of Companies will again used their annual Lindo’s to Lindo’s Race to raise funds for the Bermuda Diabetes Association’s educational programme and the renovation of a building purchased on Dundonald Street to house a full comprehensive Diabetes Resource Centre.

The race is scheduled for March 4, starting at the Warwick store and finishing on Brighton Hill Road outside the Devonshire store. Participants will either walk four miles or run the 10k course.

Chris Estwanik chalked up his fourth victory last year in the road race while Rose-Anna Hoey claimed the women’s title for the first time.

Last year’s event raised $25,860 for the Diabetes Association from entry feels and pledges, with ten-year-old Jannis Roberts, a student at St George’s Preparatory, raising the most money individually, with over $700 in pledges. This year, the person raising the most money will win a pair of round trip airline tickets to the east coast of the United States, kindly donated by JetBlue.

Participants must register by February 28 and the first 1,000 entrants will receive a goodie bag and T-shirt for registering.

There will be awards presented to the first male and female finishers of Italian descent, in memory of Aldo Balia, a local waiter who drowned in 2003.

There will also be prizes for the fastest competitive walkers in the 4-mile walk and prizes for the school and company that enter the most students or employees to either event.

The money raised for the Bermuda Diabetes Association will go towards the charity’s operating costs and their new building on Dundonald Street. The charity’s work is vital in Bermuda which has an extraordinarily high rate of diabetes of 13 per cent, almost twice the global average.

“Lindo’s is dedicated to encouraging healthy lifestyles and we are proud to support the incredibly valuable work that the Bermuda Diabetes Association does for the community,” said Zach Moniz, Lindo’s Family Foods manager. “This event is an opportunity to raise money for a good cause and to get out in the fresh air — a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning.”

Sara Bosch de Noya, Diabetes educator, at the Bermuda Diabetes Association, said: “We are so pleased to be working with Lindo’s again for the annual Lindo’s to Lindo’s walk. The funds that we raise from this event will bring us a step closer to the opening of our own Diabetes Resource Centre, which will enable us to offer exciting new programmes and initiatives to help reduce the prevalence of diabetes and assist those living with diabetes to live well.”

Those who want to take part can register online at www.racedayworld.com, pick up a form at Lindo’s stores or print off an entrance form http://www.lindos.bm/lindos-lindos-road-race-2018/.

Completed forms and payment can be dropped off at either Lindo’s store, Sportseller, or the Diabetes Resource Centre (2 Dundonald Street, Hamilton) by February 28 at 5pm.

Numbers can be picked up from the National Sports Centre Pavilion on Saturday, March 3 from 10am to 12.30pm or from Lindo’s in Warwick on the Sunday before the race.