‘’Good evening, Tony, I caught the presentation at UTECH (University of Technology) Kingston this afternoon it was fantastic. I got back my car back just in time to be able to reach home to log in and I am telling you I enjoyed every minute of it, Me like how you shut them up when them want to chat and teak over yuh time, let them know that you are the teacher in the classroom and dem must behave. I learnt a lot, I learnt so much believe you me I thought I knew enough but beloved trust me you did a fantastic job and I just think that you are inspired. So, keep on keeping on and those who don’t come or don’t make it, or chicken out at the last minute it’s their loss, you can lead a horse to the water but you can’t force him to drink. Keep on doing what you are doing. Ok beloved.’’
Dorothy Cunningham – One of Jamaica’s leading actresses.
She later put what is below on Joan McDonald, a former Miss Jamaica Facebook page:
‘Tony’s presentation was a masterclass in effective communication, knowledge of the subject, time management and crowd control! As a diabetic I thought that I knew all that I needed to know. What an eye-opener!! Continue doing your blessed work Tony Kelly! I sincerely hope that you will get the funding needed to enable you to expand your mission. One love my friend.’
Dorothy Cunningham – One of Jamaica’s leading actresses.
‘Wow, I am telling you. Thanks for sharing those testimonies. I echo Dorothy Cunningham’s thing, it was fantastic. I even signed on before. Yesterday morning I sat right in my little devotional chair here and I sent it out to hundreds, I would not say hundreds but I sent it out to a whole lot of people, a whole lot of people I sent it out to them to join in. I saw one or two of them join in there. When I looked at the thing, I saw about 75, 76 people at one time on the zoom.
But I am telling you just like she I thought I knew a lot but I learnt, I learnt some stuff. My goodness, and I like how you know, the parts of the body that actually affect the sugar, like the prostate and other things that you talk about, and stuff like that and the penis and stuff. It really ties in, man you are indeed an ambassador, I have never really heard the term ambassador for people living with diabetes but when I look back, I would say ambassador, I say boy, Basil Lopez if he was alive our English teacher in fourth form, I don’t know if he is alive or not but him should a hear you, man him would say ugh!! You know him used to use those big words on us and you would just come back at him with it,
Man, you were born for this. God has blessed you and given you a gift and a platform, continue to use it, and as he continues to keep you healthy, strong and wealthy too in the name of Jesus.
Blessings Tony, a Delce dis.’
Delce Stewart (New Jersey, USA) a classmate from Happy Grove High School in Portland, Jamaica.
Dear Tony,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for a brilliant talk and workshop session today – it was really inspiring and refreshing, and I could tell that the messages you shared went down really well. I’m so glad that Stef & others came across your talk at UEL a while back so that we were able to invite you down today, I think it really brought so many of the healthy eating and exercise messages to life, and was wonderful to hear you speak.
I hope your journey home went smoothly – thank you again!
All the best,
Izzy
Isobel Braithwaite
Dear Tony, echoing Izzy’s words, thanks so much for agreeing that we can learn from the video I took of you in action – and for an amazing presentation as ever.
I really liked the idea of myth busting and straight talking – it reminded me that this is what we had to do in the pandemic with our global majority communities. We were all agreed that we need to train up some of our diabetes champions here locally so your energy can be amplified here.
Best wishes,
Stef
Stef Abrar
Healthy Communities Programme Lead
Tower Hamlets Public Health
Acting Associate Director for Public Health (Healthy Communities), Housing & Health Theme Lead, Health Determinants Research Collaboration | Public Health Division | Health & Adult Social Care Directorate
London Borough of Tower Hamlets http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
A MASSIVE THANK YOU, TONY KELLY!
Tony, your presentation at our Birmingham Launch was nothing short of outstanding. Your depth of knowledge on diabetes, your clarity, and your passion for prevention truly elevated the entire event.
You have consistently supported me and Global Diabetes Initiatives, and we do not take that for granted. Having someone with your expertise, experience, and commitment to community health stand alongside us is a privilege.
Your contribution didn’t just inform — it inspired.
It strengthened our message.
It reinforced the importance of early detection, education, and lived-experience insight.
It is always a pleasure and honour to have you at our events. Thank you for believing in the vision, for sharing your wisdom so generously, and for continuing to champion better outcomes for our communities.
We appreciate you more than words can express.
With gratitude,
Dr Matilda Chongwa
Global Diabetes Initiatives
Happy New Month to you all!
As we step into a new month, I want to take a moment to sincerely appreciate Tony Kelly for his outstanding work in the field of diabetes , especially for championing the importance of lived experience in shaping better care and stronger communities.
Tony, thank you for gracing our Diabetes Prevention & Mental Wellbeing Centre Launch in Birmingham with your presence and powerful contribution. Your insight, authenticity, and commitment to improving outcomes made a real difference on the day.
It is always a pleasure and privilege to have you at our events. The success of the launch was made possible because of partners and advocates like you who genuinely care about prevention, education, and community empowerment.
We are grateful for your continued support.
Here’s to another month of impact, collaboration, and improving lives together.
Dr Matilda Chongwa
Global Diabetes Initiatives
#NewMonth #Gratitude #DiabetesPrevention #LivedExperience #CommunityLeadership
