By Hindustan Times
Bollywood couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are set to throw their weight behind a diabetes charity here, attending the 25th anniversary celebrations of Britain's longest serving MP of Indian origin, Keith Vaz. The pair will attend a dinner in support of the Leicester-based
charity Silver Star and lift funds for the fourth mobile diabetes unit to be based in Mumbai.
The unit is to be named after Amitabh Bachchan, the charity's international patron, and handed over to him on his birthday October 11 this year. The charity was founded by Vaz who himself has type 2 diabetes.
Vaz decided that his 25th anniversary can be devoted to the reason for diabetes that is a growing global epidemic. 3.4 million people within the UK be afflicted by diabetes and 24,000 people die prematurely once a year from related causes.
In India, over 61 million people have the condition. Last year, 983,000 people died from related complications. By 2030, it's estimated that over 100 million Indians may have the disease.
"I'M very excited to be hosting Bollywood's power couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan for the sort of special day. I'M delighted that the Bachchan family are a part of this kind of worthwhile cause," said Vaz.
"As a type-2 diabetic, the mission of Silver Star may be very on the subject of my heart. Raising awareness of the condition is of important importance, as 8 out of 10 cases of type 2 diabetes can also be prevented with the proper lifestyle and care.
"I can call to mind no better approach to mark my 25 years in Parliament, than by helping our community tackle the diabetes epidemic," he added.
Music on the dinner may be provided by Raghu Dixit and Preeya Kaalidas. Speaker of the home of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP will deliver the keynote speech.
