Neo-Soul Singer Angie Stone Belts a New Tune: Be Fearless in the FACE of Diabetes
16 April 2008 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Grammy Award-nominated artist encourages African-Americans living
with diabetes to take control of their disease NEW YORK, April 15
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grammy-nominated singer- songwriter Angie
Stone has teamed up with Eli Lilly and Company to launch the
national Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered
(F.A.C.E.) Diabetes campaign to encourage African-Americans with
diabetes to take control and learn how to better manage their
disease. Based on in-depth research of African-Americans with
diabetes, insights from physicians and various national and local
health advocacy organizations, and a successful pilot program in
Chicago, the campaign is launching nationally and will be rolled
out in various metropolitan cities throughout the year starting
with Atlanta in May, followed by Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis.
"When I was first diagnosed with diabetes eight years ago, I was in
total denial about my disease and its impact on my life. I didn't
understand the importance of following my doctor's treatment
program and making lifestyle changes to better manage my diet and
my weight," said Stone. "But through trial and error and working
with my healthcare team, my diabetes is finally under control. I've
signed on as the national spokesperson for the F.A.C.E. Diabetes
campaign because I want to be an example and encourage our
community to get active and fearlessly face diabetes." Through a
series of practical and sustainable programs in local communities,
the campaign's goal is to help foster behavioral and attitudinal
changes in areas critical to success in managing diabetes such as
nutrition/cooking, physical activity, health and overall
well-being. The F.A.C.E. Diabetes campaign also has a comprehensive
online component, http://www.face-diabetes.com/, which includes
diabetes information, health and nutrition tips and recipes,
details about upcoming events around the country, Stone's personal
journey with diabetes and inspirational messages from Stone and
diabetes/nutrition experts. Despite significant treatment advances
and a wide variety of patient education and support programs, the
incidence of diabetes and its resulting medical complications
continues to rapidly rise. Moreover, African-Americans in the
United States are disproportionately impacted by diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than three
million African- Americans are diagnosed with diabetes,(1) and
additional research suggests nearly one million African-Americans
remain undiagnosed.(2) "The disproportionate impact of diabetes on
African-Americans is staggering. However, just because there is a
high prevalence in our community, it doesn't mean we should accept
diabetes as something we can't change," said Dr. Eugene Wright,
diabetes specialist and Medical Director, Primary Care and
Specialty Practices of North Carolina Cape Fear Valley Health
System. "There is a need for programs like the F.A.C.E. Diabetes
campaign that complement the information and the treatment regimens
provided in the doctor's offices and which provides resources and
support to those patients who need it most. I encourage our
community to take a stance against diabetes and get involved with
the F.A.C.E. Diabetes campaign." "Lilly is excited to launch the
F.A.C.E. Diabetes campaign nationally and help African-Americans
with diabetes learn to better manage a disease that can lead to
devastating complications if left uncontrolled," said Baryona
Billington, Manager, Diabetes Business Unit, Eli Lilly and Company.
"Support of the F.A.C.E. Diabetes campaign is in line with our
company's mission to do all we can to arrest the progression of
diabetes for individuals and communities. Lilly is committed to
helping individuals achieve greater success in managing their
disease by complementing therapeutic advances with campaigns like
F.A.C.E. Diabetes that provide practical tools and local and
culturally relevant community programs." About the F.A.C.E.
Diabetes Campaign The Fearless African-Americans Connected and
Empowered (F.A.C.E.) Diabetes Campaign is a grassroots movement
targeting African-Americans in the United States to help
individuals, families and neighborhoods overcome key barriers to
success in living with diabetes. Supported by Eli Lilly and
Company, and national and local health advocacy organizations, the
F.A.C.E. Diabetes campaign will implement a series of practical and
sustainable programs, which will help foster behavioral and
attitudinal changes in areas critical to success in managing
diabetes such as nutrition/cooking, physical activity, health and
overall well-being. For additional information about the F.A.C.E.
Diabetes campaign and/or events, go to
http://www.face-diabetes.com/. About Angie Stone South Carolina
native Angie Stone began singing at First Nazareth Baptist Church
as a child and by the age of sixteen, she formed the rap trio, The
Sequence. Their hits for Sugarhill Records showcased Angie's vocal
chops to the world beyond her Carolina home, and by the mid '80s,
she had worked with top producers in the music world as well as
signed with A&M Records with her neo-soul trio, Vertical Hold.
In 1999, Stone released her much-heralded debut solo album, "Black
Diamond," on Arista Records. The word on Angie was that she was a
modern day-Aretha Franklin providing an exuberant return to classic
soul. Stone quickly became a certified-gold CD artist as well as an
international star. Recently, she was nominated for a Grammy for
the song "Baby" from "The Art of Love & War," her latest debut
CD for the newly reactivated Stax Records. Writing over 90% of the
songs, the album highlights her personal journey through her diary
of love, pain, joy and empowerment and showcases every nuance of
her vocal range. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a leading
innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of
first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by
applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories
and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers --
through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most
urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is
available at http://www.lilly.com/. P-LLY REFERENCES 1. African
American and Diabetes Facts.
http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/africanamerican/facts.jsp
. Last accessed 31 March 2008. 2. Diabetes in African Americans.
http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/b44.htm . Last accessed 31 March
2008. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071106/CLTU016LOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071106/CLTU016LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company
CONTACT: Daphne Hoytt, Manning Selvage & Lee, +1-917-406-2779,
or Morry Smulevitz, Eli Lilly and Company, +1-317-457-3294
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