Fun Schools in the fight against the diabetes

Celebrating the World Diabetes Day, around 2000 boys and girls aged 7 to 12 were playing football during a weekin Nowember throughout Macedonia in an event called the “Novo Nordisk Cup”, coordinated by the Open Fun Football Schools in cooperation with Novo.

Out of the many one-day street events that we organize every year in all the municipalities where we implement the Open Fun Football Schools, we organized an event called Novo Nordisk Cup for the first time in 2005. The Cup was organized on World Diabetes Day, November 14, for boys and girls aged 7-12, taking place in 14 municipalities in Macedonia. Each venue had approximately 100 participants, 30% being girls and all together 20 children with diabetes. The event was organized with the assistance of 14 leaders, 42 trainers and 42 assistants.
This event as well as all the other events organized by the Open Fun Football Schools was following the principals of multi-ethnicity and sports for all.

We must, however, underline that the number of diabetic children participating in these events doesn’t reflect the actual situation in our country. Diabetic children and especially their parents are not ready to get recognized in the society and don’t speak openly of the disease. We think that this is one of the issues that need to be addressed in the future.
Nevertheless, during these activities there was a very positive approach to the diabetic children, who shouldn’t by any circumstances be seperated from normal children’s lives!

Dejan from Kavadarci has diabetes and participated in the event. His mother, Sevdalina Boskov, described her experience this way:

“…we were invited to take part in the Novo Nordisk Cup that was held on November 13 at the city stadium in Kavadarci, marking the World Diabetes Day.
I was happy to accept the invitation, and we went to the venue where we experienced a very pleasant surprise…I saw a big pitch with soft green grass, fresh air and many children with big smiles on their faces. Out of the130 children present, there were 5 diabetic children. Their parents and friends accompanied them in order to support them and to enjoy their happiness and laughter….I let my child join the activities, and he was thrilled.
They all ran at the football stadium, their faces became red just like red apples. Their eyes were sparkling with joy and their faces glowing with happiness – just as the day it self... The sky was clear and beautiful with a warm sun that was shining equally on all the children…

All the children were happy, and their parents, including me, were happy too. Once again, I would like to thank you with all my heart because it’s good to see the children socializing in such a way…I am really impressed and I’m sending my best regards to the main organizers and of course to the coaches from Kavadarci. They are very well organized and they are taking very good care of our children and with one purpose – to make them happy. The happiness in itself brings improved health…”

The Novo Nordisk Cup is organized in all the countries in which Open Fun Football Schools are implemented: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.