Couriers’ Christmas Gesture – Join Diabetes Fight

NEWS RELEASE

21 November 2006

Couriers’ Christmas Gesture – Join the Fight Against Diabetes

Express Couriers Ltd, encompassing the CourierPost, Pace and Contract Logistics brands, is this year sending out only one Christmas gift instead of many – but the company is confident the gesture won’t be seen as Scrooge-like.

Instead of sending out corporate Christmas gifts to valued clients, Express Couriers has signed a sponsorship deal that will support Diabetes New Zealand.

“We’ve made a call that, we believe, will be appreciated by our customers. Type 2 diabetes is now at epidemic levels in this country – and we feel that backing Diabetes New Zealand in its fight against this disease is a meaningful and useful Christmas gesture,” says the company’s Chief Executive, Jim Quinn.

In NZ there are:

 125,000 people diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

 Another 115,000 with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes

 And a further 300,000 people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

 The numbers are both alarming and growing

 The cost to the country is significant - diabetes is a major cause in

- 50% of heart attacks

- 33% of strokes

- 50% of kidney failures

- 50% of blindness

- 50% of amputations

- 14% of hospital bed days.

Jim Quinn says Express Couriers has a direct interest in the fight against diabetes. “We do employ a large number of very fit and healthy people – especially courier contractors. However some of our staff, like many other New Zealanders, are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

“Safety and wellbeing is crucial to our business and focussing on general wellbeing – not just directly relating to work practices – is good for our business and, obviously, for our staff.”

About Express Couriers

Express Couriers Ltd is a 50/50 joint venture between New Zealand Post and DHL and encompasses the CourierPost, Pace and Contract Logistics brands.

About Diabetes New Zealand

Diabetes New Zealand is a nationwide, non-governmental, non-profit organisation. Established in 1962, the organisation supports 14,000 members, 39 diabetes societies throughout New Zealand, and health professionals involved with diabetes.

"Diabetes New Zealand welcomes Express Couriers as a valued partner in the fight to counter the diabetes epidemic which is now sweeping the country," says National President Murray Dear. "The support of Express Couriers will assist Diabetes New Zealand initiatives to improve health outcomes for many people affected by diabetes in New Zealand."

Diabetes New Zealand acts for people affected by diabetes by:

- Encouraging local support for people affected by diabetes

- Acting as an advocate for people affected by diabetes

- Raising awareness of diabetes, especially concerning interventions that will prevent or reduce its incidence

- Educating and informing people about diabetes, its treatment, management and control

- Supporting research into the treatment, prevention and cure of diabetes.

More information can be found at www.diabetes.org.nz.

For further details please:

Visit www.expresscouriers.co.nz

ENDS

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