Brian Scharfstein with Sun Life students, photo supplied
UWinnipeg’s Sun Life Diabetes Awareness and Education Program students received a generous donation from Canadian Footwear, valued at $5,120, that included 32 pairs of New Balance running shoes for the students from Elmwood and Gorden Bell high schools participating in the program.
Brian Scharfstein, President of Canadian Footwear, attended the program and helped fit the students with the new footwear. This program helps combat diabetes and is designed and taught through UWinnipeg’s Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health.
New Balance shoes, photo supplied
“The opportunity for us to provide education and an incentive in reducing the risk of diabetes in our youth is crucial,” shared Scharfstein. “Partnering with New Balance, Canadian Footwear is proud to be part of the University of Winnipeg Sun Life Diabetes Awareness and Education Program.”
Scharfstein discussed the importance of proper fitting footwear, “Having Brian on campus is a wonderful addition to the program, and the students very much enjoyed learning from him,” shared Chinweoke Asagwara, Acting Program Coordinator, UWinnipeg Sun Life Diabetes Awareness and Education Program.
This is not the first donation from Canadian Footwear. In 2015, they also donated shoes to the participants of this program.
Since the program’s inception in 2013, over 200 students have participated in the Sun Life Financial Diabetes Awareness and Education Program. This program provides hands-on, practical education for inner-city youth in Manitoba. The program helps provide students of higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM is increasing among Canadian youth, and national surveillance has revealed ethnic minorities and Manitoban youth are disproportionately affected.
