Surf Day for Kids in Pacifica Promotes Diabetes Education and Awareness

CONCORD, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 14, 2011) - The Diabetic Youth Foundation today announced that its 10^th annual Surf Day in Pacifica for children and teens ages 7 - 17 will take place this Sunday, September 18. The event is for youth with diabetes and their families and aims to bring together community and increase public education and awareness about the disease.

At this one day event, youths living with diabetes will receive surfing lessons from professional surf instructors and learn more about managing their diabetes during sports from certified diabetes educators. Holly Hopwood, age 13, of Morgan Hill, and a player on the National Hockey League's junior national championship San Jose Junior Sharks team, will participate in this event. In addition to playing hockey, Holly is an enthusiastic surfer and soccer player and is an inspiring example of how to successfully manage diabetes while staying physically active.

"The Diabetic Youth Foundation started the Surf Day in Pacifica several years ago as a way of engaging young children and teens living with diabetes," said Mats Wallin, Executive Director of the Diabetic Youth Foundation. "It's a fun and interactive way for them and their families to learn more about managing diabetes while participating in sports. The Surf Day is one of DYF's signature events and we are proud of its continued success in raising diabetes awareness and building community."

"I am so excited to participate in DYF's Surf Day," said Holly Hopwood. "I'm looking forward to meeting other teens living with and managing their diabetes while staying active in sports. I manage my diabetes with the OmniPod insulin pump. As part of a national championship team, I hope to show other active kids living with diabetes that they don't have to let their diabetes get in the way of their dreams."

Surf Day Pacifica will be held in Pacifica, Calif. on Sunday, September 18, 2011 and is open to youth ages 7-17 and their families. Surfing equipment, instruction and snacks will be provided, as well as tips for diabetes management.

About Diabetic Youth Foundation
DYF was founded in 1938 by Dr. Mary B. Olney, a physician from UC San Francisco. Dr. Olney believed that children with type-1 diabetes could live healthy and productive lives by learning how to care for their diabetes with a complex management system. Today, DYF still holds true to that philosophy, creating opportunities for children, teens and families with diabetes which are equal to that of their peers who do not have diabetes. The mission of the Diabetic Youth Foundation (DYF) is to improve the quality of life for children, teens and families affected by diabetes. They accomplish this by providing education and recreation programs within a supportive community, encouraging personal growth, knowledge and independence. DYF also recognizes the impact that Type-1 diabetes can have on a family unit and is dedicated to supporting the parents, caregivers and sibling who are affected. DYF is a founding member of the Diabetes Education and Camping Association (DECA) and DYF's Bearskin Meadow Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.

About the OmniPod Insulin Management System
The OmniPod Insulin Management System is the world's first tubeless insulin pump. The OmniPod offers people living with insulin-requiring diabetes all the benefits of insulin pump therapy, with freedom and ease. The tubing-free OmniPod insulin pump has just two easy-to-use parts: the discreet, waterproof Pod, which automatically inserts and can be worn on many parts of the body to hold and deliver insulin; and the Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM), a hand-held device that wirelessly programs the Pod, calculates suggested doses and has a built-in blood glucose meter. For more information on the OmniPod insulin pump, please visit: http://www.myomnipod.com.