La Cala celebrates: Diabetes walkathon brings music, Christmas shopping and community spirit

La Cala de Mijas enjoyed a fantastic day of community spirit on Sunday, November 8, as hundreds of visitors turned out for the eighth annual Lions Club Diabetes Awareness Walkathon and Winter Market.

More market stalls than ever before filled Plaza del Torreon, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to browse handmade goods, unusual gifts and original ideas for Christmas presents. Among the attractions was the popular La-Cala-ender Girls’ La Cala Lions 2027 calendar.

Entertainment kept the atmosphere buzzing throughout the morning. The day got off to an energetic start with fitness instructor Lisa leading a warm-up session that soon had everyone on their feet and ready for the five-kilometre charity walk along the Senda Litoral boardwalk.

The Phoenix Singers then lifted the mood with their performance, while Laura Elen had visitors dancing and enjoying the sunshine. With music, shopping and plenty of familiar faces, the square was buzzing with activity.

However, the event was about much more than a good day out. The Lions Club’s Diabetes Support Group offered free blood glucose tests, giving visitors an opportunity to check their levels and learn more about the importance of early diabetes detection.

Visitors could also collect information about the Lions’ ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme. This free initiative allows people to keep details of their medical conditions, allergies and current medication in a small container inside their fridge.

Special stickers alert emergency workers to its location, allowing them to find potentially vital medical information quickly if someone is unable to communicate during an emergency. The La Cala Lions’ Message in a Bottle initiative was previously covered by Euro Weekly News, and further information is available through the official Message in a Bottle scheme.

More than 100 people registered for the walk, while 64 stalls took part in the market. With hundreds enjoying the occasion and the weather kindly holding off ahead of Monday’s rain, this year’s walkathon proved an outstanding success for the La Cala Lions and the local community.

It was a day of exercise, entertainment and Christmas shopping, but most importantly, a reminder that a little community spirit can help support a very worthwhile cause.

The La Cala Lions’ work raising diabetes awareness has been recognised in Mijas, with Anne Bowles previously honoured for more than 20 years of work in this field.