We're going blue (From Thisisdorset)

We're going blue

10:22am Friday 9th November 2007 in

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ABBOTSBURY'S St Catherine's Chapel will be standing shoulder to shoulder with the Empire State Building and Sydney Opera House next week when it turns blue to mark World Diabetes Day.

The tiny chapel overlooking Chesil beach is one of 140 buildings across the world selected to be lit up blue at dusk on November 14 to mark the first UN recognised World Diabetes Day.

The day has been organised to highlight the growing number of people across the world being diagnosed with diabetes.

The Empire State Building, one of New York's most famous landmarks, was the first building to join the World Diabetes Day campaign and agree to light up in blue.

Since then the campaign has been joined by a host of global landmarks, including Sears Tower, London Eye, Niagara Falls, the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, Christ the Redeemer in Rio and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Now St Catherine's Chapel has been added to the list - much to the delight of campaigners in Dorset.

Sherry Waldron, a dietician at the Diabetes Centre in Dorchester, said the chapel was suggested by colleagues as one of the landmarks and was accepted by international organisers of the day.

"We are delighted and hope that it will highlight the growing number of people with diabetes at home and abroad," she said.

Carole Lawrence-Parr, director of strategic development for Dorset Primary Care Trust, said: "We welcome the opportunity to raise the profile of diabetes in Dorset.

"Whilst Dorset diabetes services were recently assessed by the National Healthcare Commission Service Review of Diabetes as excellent, the Primary Care Trust is committed to continuing to improve diabetes services to meet the needs of its population."

Dr Andrew Macklin, consultant diabetologist at Dorset County Hospital, said: "We are delighted that St Catherine's Chapel is lighting up to recognise this important day.

"We are fortunate to have such a prominent beacon to stand out for what is often a sadly low-profile disease. And would like to acknowledge John Houston, general manager of Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens, and John Newton of Lyme Light, for organising the event."