BROTHER news and updates

BROTHER, is upping the ante on its awareness-raising about childhood diabetes by launching a new competition series for young people living with diabetes. Frontman and big brother, Hamish Richardson, has had diabetes since he was 11.

The series, ‘Pricks and Pumps: Living With Diabetes’, is about getting young people with diabetes, or young people living with someone with diabetes, a parent or sibling, say, to use creative arts to work through their issues with the disease.

‘We tour all over the U.S. and I’m constantly blown away by the way young people are dealing with life with diabetes,” says Hamish. ‘There’s a lot of rage, frustration and fear when diabetes hits a family. It can be bloody tough. But here they are: writing songs, plays, making and playing didgeridoos, taking amazing photographs, designing clothes, you name it – just working through all their emotions in really creative ways. It’s humbling. We want to provide some kind of online forum where young people can share that with each other, be recognized for their talents, get encouragement and inspire each other.’

Kicking off the series is a competition for digital videographers and photographers. Entrants must submit EITHER a 30 second MPEG or Quicktime video that highlights just one idea or theme on living with diabetes OR a 10-shot digital photo series, preferably linked together with text and music using Flash, or similar. Prizes include BROTHER merchandise, including the band’s signature didgeridoos, music, apparel and other non-BROTHER goodies. Entries will be showcased regularly until the closing date of 9 April on BROTHERmusic.com and winner/s announced on April 19.

The inaugural competition judges are: Hamish Richardson (chair), BROTHER’s co-founder and frontman, musician, composer, performer, sometime RockGod and digital photography addict; Clare Rosenfeld, 17 year old advocate and lobbyist whose mission is to raise funds and political support to find a cure for childhood diabetes; Zippora Karz, former NY City Ballet prima ballerina diagnosed with diabetes at the start of her professional career and who now teaches and lectures to young people on movement and self-esteem; Lisa Callamaro, Hollywood agent whose book-to-movie and TV deals include Man Without a Face and Legally Blonde; Keith Sauter, whose First Assistant Editor credits include the hit movies ‘Traffic’ and ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ and author, director and all-round creative whiz, Robert Richter.

Unlike type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, which is often related to lifestyle and which can often be managed through diet rather than insulin dependence, childhood diabetes, or ‘Type 1’ diabetes means the pancreas creates no insulin and regular insulin shots – from needles or wearable pumps - are required.

click here for more details on the Pricks and Pumps competition series.