Walking for the General: Chisasibi announces memorial walk for diabetes awareness

Allen “the General” Neacappo was a beloved and cherished citizen of Chisasibi, well known for his love of walking. Now his name will be given to a community walk like those he so enjoyed.  

 

In years past Chisasibi had joined many other Native communities across Canada by participating in an annual “Sadie’s Walk,” devoted to the late Sadie Muik, a diabetes prevention worker from BC who died tragically in a car accident. “Sadie’s Walk” has not take place in many years in Chisasibi, but diabetes remains a major health concern. Within Eeyou Istchee alone, as of July 1, 2007, 1,583 Cree were suffering from from the disease. And according to the Cree Health Board statistics, two Cree are diagnosed with diabetes each week, and one out of every five Cree adults is diabetic.  

 

To address this problem, George Diamond, Healthy & Safe Communities Program Officer with the Cree Public Health Board, approached Lilly Napash, a Community Health Representative, to plan another community walk as part of a new health campaign. Lilly immediately suggested naming it after Neacappo, who passed away in 2008. “The General was living with diabetes. We decided to name the walk as a tribute to him because for every walk the Cree Public Health Board organized in the past, he was always there,” said Diamond. “Every single one, rain or shine, he was there.” 

 

The General was also the first to complete an accumulative 2000 km walk, long before anyone else in the community. But walking wasn’t just about keeping his sugar levels down. It was also about showing his support for community campaigns. “If you asked him for help or to do something, he would always say yes. It was just his nature,” says Jimmy Neacappo, Allen’s brother. “He would say yes before you could finish asking him what you wanted him to do.”  

 

The General was “the volunteer of all volunteers,” says Diamond, who recalls arriving early to set up a community event and discovering that all the folding chairs –500 of them – had already been put out. The General had arrived before him. 

 

Of the 10k memorial walk in Chisasibi, scheduled for June 29, Diamond says that the goal is not just to encourage those with diabetes to walk. He hopes the event will bring out the entire community and prompt people to make walking a regular part of their lives. Many people develop type two diabetes as a complication from obesity, so daily exercise is an ideal way to avoid the disease or, for those already suffering, to help control it. Then, of course, there are the other benefits of walking, such as reduced levels of hypertension, stress, and anxiety, and improved muscle tone.  

 

The organizers are offering water bottles, mouse pads, and diabetes information pamphlets to bring out walkers. But the biggest lure – other than the health benefits – will no doubt be memorial t-shirts with a slogan the General would have been proud of. “Let’s fight diabetes together by walking!”