2016 Walk sets new records

The 2016 Global Diabetes Walk surpassed expectations, broke records and expanded to new lands. 176 Walk organisers registered 1,830 Walks in 78 countries – and an impressive 429,006 people participated. Not only were steps taken, but the message behind those steps was clear: Take steps to prevent diabetes. 

Thanks to everyone who made this 12th Global Diabetes Walk a success.

The final 2016 Walk numbers will appear in our Annual Review. 

Walks in Africa

233 Walks were held with more than 58,972 participants in 19 countries (Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe). The biggest Walks took place in Nigeria, with 18,000 participants in 135 Walks organised by Nwaeze Diabetic Foundation Multipurpose Cooperative Society – a first time Walk organiser. 

Walks in Europe

61 Walks were held with 33,099 participants in 19 countries (Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, and Uzbekistan). The biggest Walks took place in Armenia, with 12 Walks and 24,000 participants organised by Armenian Red Cross Society. It is the largest number of participants mobilised by one organiser in Europe to date.

Walks in Middle East and North Africa

154 Walks were held with 60,500 participants in 11 countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen). The biggest Walk took place in United Arab Emirates with 15,000 participants organised by Landmark Groups –which also helped organise impressive Walks in Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.

Walks in North America and Caribbean

23 Walks were held with 5,275 participants in 7 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Mexico, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and United States). The biggest Walks took place in St Lucia, where St. Lucia Diabetes and Hypertension Association organised three Walks with 1,800 participants.  

South and Central America 

64 Walks were held with 28,090 participants in 11 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay). The biggest Walks were in Honduras, where Instituto Nacional de Diabetes organised 10 Walks with 3,000 participants.

South East Asia

1,227 Walks were held with 230,870 participants in 4 countries (India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka). The biggest Walks took place in India with an impressive 100,000 participants and volunteers in 977 Walks organised by kNOw Diabetes. This year, the Walk campaign’s biggest Walk organiser was accompanied by a new impressive contestant, Dr Rajesh Jain, which organised 75 Walks gathering more than 75,000 participants. 

Western Pacific

68 Walks were held with 12,200 participants in 7 countries (Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam). The biggest Walk took place in Malaysia, where Yong Lai Mee organised one Walks with more than 2,000 participants.