Kicking for a cause

Goalkeeper Huda Ali Salman will be putting her shot-stopping talents to the test for a good cause at the Bahrain Rugby Club in Saar on Friday.

The 22-year-old star of Bahrain's national women's team will step out between the posts for a penalty shoot out at the 'Kick for a Cause' family fun and sporting spectacular to raise funds for research and treatment of diabetes.

The highlight of the event will be a series of highly-competitive six-a-side tournaments, an annual charity fundraiser organised by the Rotary Club of Manama, now in its 15th year.

More than 18 teams have signed up for the tournament. The men's competition will include teams from Bapco, BNP Paribas, Budget car rentals, the University College of Bahrain, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Intercol, the Bahrain Institute for Banking & Finance, Chevron, BMMI, Al Zayani Investments, ACEC, St Christopher's School, Qays Zu'bi, Noonoo Exchange, Preston Exiles, Kingdom United, Dutch Lions, Arab Banking Corporation, the Oasis Centre as well as visiting teams from Saudi Arabia.

A women's competition will include a team from the Bahrain national under-16 girl's squad.

Last year's tournament raised a staggering BD30,000 for children with diabetes and helped to fund the purchase of a mobile unit to serve as a counselling ward for children suffering from the condition, achieved in co-operation with the Bahrain Diabetes Society and Al Kindi Hospital.

The mobile unit visits schools and community centres throughout Bahrain to help educate children and their families diabetes on how to deal with the disease and, perhaps more importantly, how to prevent the onset of some forms of the disease. Funds raised this year will support the same vital cause.

The year's sponsors include GPIC, Arab Banking Corporation, BNP Paribas, the Oasis Centre, Chevron, International Agencies Co Ltd, Al Zayani Investments, BMMI, Qays H. Zu'bi, ACEC, RCSI, Bapco, BIBF, BNH, Budget car rental, University College of Bahrain and Noonoo Exchange.

The entertainment includes the national women's team playing an exhibition match at around noon. Alongside the penalty shoot out contest there will be two other football skills competitions: kick-ups and target shooting, as well as a raffle, DJ, food and drink stalls. Al Kindi Hospital staff will also perform free diabetes tests too.

The Rotary Club of Manama, boasts a current membership of 66 from all segments of Bahraini society. It was founded in 1965 with the purpose of raising funds and giving support to community projects in the kingdom and abroad. The Child Protection Centre, the Deaf & Mute Society and Al Rahma Centre are other recent beneficiaries.

With the motto 'Service Above Self', the Manama Rotary Club is a part of a global service club organisation with more than 1.2 million members.

THERE are three major types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin so daily insulin injections are needed. The exact cause is unknown.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than Type 1 and makes up most cases. It usually occurs in adulthood, but can affect young people too. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal. Many people with Type 2 diabetes do not know they have it. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise.

Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that can develop during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.