HOME | SCOOP!! & NEWS | HAPPENINGS Amitabh Bachchan opens diabetes charity in Britain24th Aug 2008 10.00 IST By Agencies Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan who is in Britain for his worldwide 'Unforgettable Tour' on Saturday launched a diabetes detection van in Leicester supported by Keith Vaz, Labour MP of Indian origin. Bachchan charmed one and all with his famous baritone and characteristic modesty as he joined Vaz and other volunteers of the Silver Star Appeal charity organisation. 
The Big B launched the Mobile Assessment Unit that caries out free tests for diabetes and promotes culturally sensitive healthcare. A local band played music as hundreds of fans turned out on Uppingham Road to welcome Bachchan. The city has a large population of Indian origin, has a high prevalence of diabetes. "The love and affection of the people has not changed from when I was in this city 10 years ago and a lot of other communities could learn a lot from the one here in Leicester," Bachchan said. Vaz was unaware about being infected with Type 2 diabetes until he visited an assessment centre in 2004. He set up the organisation in 2007 to mark the 20th anniversary of his election to the House of Commons and his 50th birthday. About 50,000 pounds were raised after his efforts, which funded the first mobile diabetes assessment unit opened by Bachchan. The specially equipped van provides free blood sugar tests, which can detect the disease. Staffed by a trained nurse, the van attends health events and, by invitation, will visit businesses. "I am delighted we have raised enough money to be able to acquire our own premises for the charity. I never thought it would be as successful as it has been," Vaz said. Vaz, whose roots lie in Goa and is known to be a fan of Indian films, particularly of actress Rekha said, "For Leicester to welcome a star of the calibre of Amitabh Bachchan is a great honour and one that I know will have delighted our British Asian communities. The diabetes van was taken to London, where visitors have included Cherie Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Related view Amitabh Bachchan videos (new) view Rekha videos (new) | ALSO READ scoop ~ Michael Jackson converts to Islam: report ~ A R Rahman inspires people to vote! ~ Hrithik Roshan to play lord Ram? ~ Sada enters Bollywood with 'Khallballi' ~ Konkona Sen does a lesbian act! ~ Ash and Bon Jovi unite for Live Earth ~ How Salman improvised a romantic scene with Katrina! ~ Katrina Kaif did 'Yuvvraaj' for emotional reasons ( more in scoop ) happenings ~ Big B, Bon Jovi and Roger Waters team up for a cause ~ 'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!' to premiere at IFFI ( more in happenings ) AKC HOT INDEX ECARDS > Halloween, New Year, Diwali, Birthday, Valentines, Love, Christmas MOVIES Dostana, Dasvidaniya, Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi, EMI, Golmaal Returns, Fashion, Heroes, Roadside Romeo, Kidnap, Drona, Yuvvraaj , Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi , Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! , Sorry Bhai MUSIC Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi , Yuvvraaj celebs » wallpapers » the celeb A-Z who's in » Katrina Kaif | Deepika Padukone | Ranbir Kapoor | Harman Baweja | Aishwarya Rai | Abhishek Bachchan | Imran Khan | Shahrukh Khan | Salman Khan | Aamir Khan | Hrithik Roshan | Akshay Kumar | Zayed Khan | Saif Ali Khan | John Abraham | Shahid Kapur | Kareena Kapoor | Vidya Balan | Priyanka Chopra | Rani Mukherjee | Mallika Sherawat | Bipasha Basu | Preity Zinta | Kajol | Neha Dhupia | Sameera Reddy | Juhi Chawla | Karisma Kapoor | Madhuri Dixit | Zeenat Aman | Payal Rohatgi | Sneha Ullal | Mahima Chaudhary | Meghna Naidu | Gayatri Joshi | Rakhi Sawant | Bhumika Chawla | Lisa Ray | Dimple Kapadia | Ayesha Takia | Dia Mirza | Sushmita Sen | Amisha Patel | Esha Deol | Amrita Rao | Amrita Arora | Genelia D'Souza | Arjun Rampal | Amitabh Bachchan | Vivek Oberoi | Raima Sen | Riya Sen | Rekha | Rimi Sen | Nigar Khan | Tanushree Dutta | Yana Gupta | Deepal Shaw | Shilpa Shetty | Celina Jaitley | Sonam Kapoor | Neha Oberoi | Nisha Rawal | Manjari Fadnis | Kamal Haasan | Rajnikant | Asin | Sanjay Dutt | Shahid Kapoor | Sherlyn Chopra | Farhan Akhtar | Prachi Desai | Koel Purie | Shahana Goswami | Adah Sharma | Kangana Ranaut | Anushka Sharma | Mugdha Godse | Masumeh Makhija | Minissha Lamba | Vidya Malvade | Malaika Arora | Shweta Kumar | | more... | 
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