AL AIN // He may have perfected the skyhook, but health does not have to be about a flawless lifestyle, says Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“People should not try for perfection – they need to try to improve,” the former American basketball star said.
Abdul-Jabbar, who despite retiring in 1989 remains the National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer, spoke to hundreds of schoolchildren and other attendees at the Take a Step for Diabetes Walk in Al Ain on Wednesday.
More than 400 pupils, aged between 6 and 13, from Indian School Al Ain and Brighton College Al Ain heard a presentation on healthy living and diabetes.
Abdul-Jabbar then led a walk around the municipality building.
Abdul-Jabbar said he was astounded to hear that diabetes was a big killer in the UAE, when many cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
The country ranks 15th in the world in terms of diabetes prevalence, with nearly 19 per cent of the population living with the condition, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Promoting health is personal for Abdul-Jabbar, 67, whose mother had diabetes and who himself had leukaemia in 2009, although he has since fully recovered.
“When you have a threat like leukaemia in your life, you have to make some changes,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to be alive. I’m going to make the best of these years.”
He told the crowd that moderation was key and emphasised the need to avoid “empty calories”.
A pupil asked whether he liked vegetables.
“I really don’t like vegetables,” Abdul-Jabbar said, but added that his grandmother would “smack him” on the back of the head if he didn’t eat them, and he now ate them regularly.
One boy used the opportunity to ask how Abdul-Jabbar’s skills measured up to those of another American NBA star, Kobe Bryant.
“Do you think Kobe could beat you?” the boy asked.
“Kobe is only in his mid-30s and I’m 67, so we’ll never find that out,” he said.
Abdul-Jabbar, who played 14 seasons at LA Lakers, said he did not realise so many children at the event would be knowledgeable about basketball. “These kids are very well rehearsed in all the statistics ... it’s pretty amazing.”
Information about healthy habits led Emma Elam, 11, an American pupil at Brighton College Al Ain, to return home and ask her father to make a healthy meal, she said.
Yassmin Shawkri, 12, a Russian-Iraqi pupil at the same school, was also excited, having played basketball for four years.
Young people are more receptive to hearing about good health from someone like an athlete, said Bashar Al Ramahi, chief executive of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, which organised the event. When the proper message goes to younger generations, “they accept it much more easily than the older generation”, Mr Al Ramahi said.
“They are much more receptive to accept it.”
Abdul-Jabbar’s long athletic career was testimony to his fitness and lifestyle, making him a good ambassador for raising awareness about diabetes in the UAE, Mr Al Ramahi said.
There is a misconception here that diabetes is a disease for the elderly, as well as misunderstandings about what food is healthy and what is not, he said. “The most important message that I want everybody to get is that diabetes is preventable.”
A brisk, 30-minute walk five days a week can prevent type 2 diabetes. “This disease doesn’t have to be the big problem that it is today.”
The Al Ain event was the first walk as part of the Take a Step for Diabetes Week. About 4,000 people have signed up for the main event on Yas Island on November 7.
lcarroll@thenational.ae
Readers are invited to read Friday’s paper, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be our guest editor and promote healthy living.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Racecard
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Notable groups (UAE time)
Jordan Spieth, Si Woo Kim, Henrik Stenson (12.47pm)
Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Louis Oosthuizen (12.58pm)
Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood (1.09pm)
Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Zach Johnson (4.04pm)
Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey, Adam Scott (4.26pm)
Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy (5.48pm)
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411