On Thursday, August 26th, The Diabetes Dude and over 50 of his closest friends descended upon New York City with blue flamingos in hand doing the “Flamingo Flock” for diabetes awareness.
The Flamingo Flock diabetes awareness campaign is the brainchild of 9-year-old Noah Brokmeier, “The Diabetes Dude” of Taunton, Massachusetts. Noah’s blue flamingos are landing nationwide appearances at big events like the Today Show, Boston Marathon, Bret Michaels concerts as well as to many others across the country. Wherever the blue flamingos go, they pose for pictures, which are then posted on Noah’s website, www.thediabetesdude.com. The location of the birds is also flagged on his “official flamingo tracking map,” to show the progress and growth of the campaign.
In a never before Kodak Billboard diabetes campaign, The Diabetes Dude had hundreds of families affected by diabetes submit their photos to the Times Square Kodak Billboard where the messages of hope, resilience and education reached millions of New Yorkers during this Flocking. Kodak’s “Smile Gallery”, powered by Aerva’s Pic2Screen application, allow people to email their photos to kodak@aerva.com with a caption and have it show up on the huge public display. The Diabetes Dude and friends used this opportunity to flood the Kodak Billboard with their images to raise awareness.
“When we were presented with the opportunity for submitting photos to Kodak for diabetes awareness we were ecstatic,” said Laura Houston of Plano, Texas and mom to Nate Houston who has Type 1 diabetes. “Seeing Nate’s picture on the Times Square Kodak Billboard was a special moment for our family filled with heartfelt emotion. As we reach Nate’s one year anniversary since his diabetes diagnosis, we are grateful for all the support we have received and for all the opportunities to spread the message of hope to others. Kodak helps make this happen.”
Here is how you can try it too:
1) Send your photo to kodak@aerva.com with an optional caption in the subject line.
2) Allow Kodak can approve your photo.
3) Once approved, you will receive an approval code.
4) Using the code, you can then upload your photo on the Kodak LED screen up to six times within 30-day period.
Leading up to the Kodak Flocking, the group was spotted Flocking the Today Show in Rockefeller Center. They met with Ann Curry and the newly crowned Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete. The Flockers drove throughout the night from Massachusetts getting on a charter bus at 1:00 am in the morning so they could arrive early enough at the Today Show to get those prized spots.
“I’d like to thank Kodak and Aerva for this great opportunity for helping me spread the message of hope to all those living with diabetes,” said The Diabetes Dude. “What I’m trying to do is get the word out about Type 1 diabetes and ways to treat it because not many people understood it when I was diagnosed at age 6. For me, a few things helped make a big difference – talking to other kids with diabetes, learning about diabetes with my family and using a cool tubeless insulin pump called the OmniPod,” continued Noah. “It helps me be a normal kid and do important things, like raise diabetes awareness. My hope is that my Blue Flamingo Flock campaign will help young people who are diagnosed at an early age to have as much information as possible.”
For more information:
www.thediabetesdude.com
www.kodak.com
www.aerva.com
http://blog.brokenpancreas.org/
www.myomnipod.com