It was a first in-the-park concert for the association and a debut for some special music from Chris Philpots, Tom Hudson, Norm Glowach and Chic Callas.

And Lorne Matthews, five-year member of the CDA's divisional board, received a prestigious award from the associations national office.

"A lot of residents and businesses didn't get reached in this year's door-to-door campaign, so this is one way to invite everyone down. And while they're here they can make a donation," said co-ordinator Sue Glowach.

"But it's also a thank-you for all the volunteers who helped out canvassing. We had a difficult time getting volunteers out, so a lot of the ones who did come out took on extra (canvassing) routes," she said.

Glowach praised Matthews for his time and effort in working towards the eradication of diabetes -- a condition where the body is unable to use sugar properly. It affects about six per cent of the population nation-wide.

She noted that as a diagnosed diabetic, Matthews "lives with the condition every day of his life."

Matthews thanked Glowach, who presented the award, and said, "This represents acknowledgement by a group of people who would crawl across hot coals in order that diabetes would be beaten."

Mabel Wong and registered nurse Onalee Randell, volunteers at the benefit concert and diabetes health-care workers, said they couldn't do their jobs without the support of associations like the one set up here in the North.

Wong, who is a dietitian and Randell's partner with the diabetes education program at Stanton Regional Hospital, said their program may not have been around if it weren't for the efforts of the association.

Opened in March 1996, the program has received over 250 referrals from across the North. Prior to that, 109 Northerners made the trek to Edmonton for information on how to deal with their diabetes.

"People really enjoy having the program in the North," said Wong. "They'd rather be here than in Edmonton, they're more comfortable and their families can join them while they're here."

Special group sessions have been held in Dogrib and for Yellowknife's Filipino community, something that wouldn't be available in the South.

"It's a lot of fun, that's what we're finding," said Wong. "We have a lot of story telling, it works better than us standing there and lecturing."

Across the North and in Yellowknife, collecting statistics on diabetes has just begun with the debut of Stanton's program.

Matthews and local diabetes association president John Morse, lobbied for five years to get the program at Stanton up and running, something that has "tickled the association's down south."

"You just don't get these kinds of programs opening up the way this one did," said Matthews.

Wong agreed. "Our program just can't be unless we have support. There's always been a strong diabetes association here."

The benefit concert -- helping the association reach its fundraising goal of $18,000 -- couldn't have been pulled off without food and services donations from ICG, Coldwell Banker and the Lion's Club.