Eight is Great

On August 23rd, I'll be riding in what will be the last Tour de Cure of this/my season. It'll be the fifth one that I've ridden in this year. But overall, in my goal of riding in all the Tour de Cures in the country, it will be my 8th. I take that back, this particular ride doesn't add to my overall total because I've already ridden in the Colorado Tour de Cure.

The Colorado Tour de Cure was the 2nd Tour de Cure that I rode in and out of the seven that I've done to date, it remains my favorite (although, Phoenix, AZ came in as a fairly close second this year). I'm returning to CO because, it is my favorite, it's where I've had the best experience riding in the various Tour de Cure's that I've ridden in.

If you're just now hearing about me riding in the Tour de Cure and having done 7 in the last year, let me tell you what's going on. When diagnosed with diabetes at age 11 back in 1992, I was pretty much told that exercise and diabetes didn't quite mix. As a result, I spent the better part of 15 years not being the athletic person that I was/am. Last year, I rebelled against everything I knew and decided to start cycling. Being both the scientist and the guinea pig, I experimented with my diabetes and cycling and figured out how to cycle with my diabetes accompanying me.

I rode in my first Tour de Cure in May 2007 and was immediately hooked to the idea of riding in a Tour de Cure in every state. It became a goal to ride in every state. This year I discovered that there are currently 84 Tour de Cure's held each year within the US. I changed my goal to ride in every Tour de Cure. Of course, there's always the hope that I won't get the opportunity to ride in all the Tours. There's the hope that a cure for diabetes will come along far sooner than it does later; but until that cure presents it self, I will ride.

I ride for myself, for my family members with diabetes, for all my friends with diabetes, for those with diabetes that I don’t know, and for those that will be saved from the torment of diabetes when a cure is found.

As I prepare for the 75 miles that I'll be riding, I need your help in reaching my goal of raising at least $1000.00 this year. Each mile I ride, each dollar I raise will be used in the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

No matter how small or large, your generous gift will help improve the lives of more than 24 million Americans who suffer from diabetes, in the hope that future generations can live in a world without this disease. Together, we can all make a difference!

Thank you for making a generous contribution to this cause that is so important to me!