The talented winners of Anguilla’s first Diabetes Awareness Poetry Competition were announced this weekend, marking a key moment in the island’s efforts to highlight the impact of diabetes.
Organised under the theme ‘Strength in Every Drop’, the competition celebrated creativity and community in addressing the important health issue.
Jenique Javois took first place with her poem ‘Strength in Every Drop’, followed by Vanessa Croft in second place with ‘The Drop of Life’, and Alwyn ‘Jerry Dice’ Richardson in third with ‘In the Circle of Care’.
Javois received EC$500 and breakfast for two at Tasty’s, Croft was awarded EC$300 and a gift certificate at Tackle Box Sports Centre, and Richardson received EC$200 and lunch at Cajun Goat.
Special commendations were extended and certificates given to all of the participants, whose creative works embodied resilience, strength and solidarity in the face of diabetes.
The results were announced on Saturday, 30 November, during the Anguilla Lions Club’s Hewlette Gumbs Diabetes Awareness Flash Mob Dance Off and Glow Walk.
It marked the end of a string of activities for World Diabetes Awareness Month and featured performances, survivor stories, tips for managing diabetes and calls to action for ongoing education and support.
The Anguilla Diabetes Association, in collaboration with the National Chronic Disease Unit and Malliouhana Poetry Committee, organised the poetry competition.
Speaking in a press release on behalf of the organising committee, Dana Ruan, Lavelle Niles, and Dr Phyllis Fleming-Banks applauded the participants for their creativity and effort.
They said that the judges were deeply impressed by the high calibre of submissions, which made selecting the winners a very challenging task.
The organisers also expressed their appreciation to all the participants, Anguilla Lions Club, the judges – Rosena Brooks, Ingrid Fullington and Jane Grell – as well as the prize sponsors.
Information on the Anguilla Diabetes Association is available from the National Chronic Disease Unit at lavelle.niles@gov.ai or (264) 497-3930, extension 3522.
