Walk for Life and be somebody’s hero, as AIA celebrates 100 years

Friday, 8 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The world’s largest life insurer, AIA, invites people to the AIA Walk for Life, a charity walk in aid of the Sri Lanka Heart Association (SLHA). As part of the company’s centennial celebrations, AIA will donate Rs. 1,000 to the SLHA on behalf of each person that joins the walk.

AIA CEO Pankaj Banerjee noted: “Non-Communicable Disease is a very real problem in Sri Lanka, responsible for over 75% of deaths, which is well above the global rate of 63%. As a company that prioritises making a positive difference in the community’s health and wellness, we wanted to link our centennial celebrations to a worthy cause. Coronary heart disease caused almost 25% of total deaths in Sri Lanka (WHO, 2017) and it is most likely that many of us know someone affected by heart disease. So, it is relevant that we support SLHA’s efforts to create public awareness on prevention of heart disease while providing proper training for their staff to deliver better treatment to patients.” He added: “As a company, we are committed to helping people live healthier, longer, better lives and this initiative is well aligned with this objective. And as we turn 100, a century of care, protection and trust is a milestone that we want to celebrate with you. So, I warmly welcome you to come walk for life with us, make a difference and be somebody’s hero.”

Sri Lanka Heart Association President Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe extended his appreciation to AIA: “It is great that a leading global insurer is concerned about the welfare of Sri Lankans and is addressing the issue of heart disease, which is a primary concern in the country. What is notably lacking is an informed awareness on the prevention and management of heart disease and that is something we want to prioritise. We also need better training exposure and resources for our staff, so they can provide better, more specialised treatment to patients with heart disease. We welcome this donation from AIA on behalf of all of you who will join the walk and look forward to making a meaningful impact in preventing and managing heart disease in the country.”

Visit the ‘Walk for Life’ events page on Facebook for more information or register online at www.aialife.com.lk and gather friends and family to join the AIA Walk for Life, on Sunday 10 February at the Race Course Grounds Colombo. (Registrations start at 6:30 a.m.).