American Diabetes Association: For my Aunt Roz and my friends

For my Aunt Roz and my friends
Thursday, April 21, 2005
By: Harvey Dennenberg

For my Aunt Roz and my friends

I ride for my Aunt Roz and my friends who have family members with diabetes. At 64 I ride to demonstrate that riding is a state of mind and maybe I can encourage others my age, or younger, to just get out their and ride for this great cause.

2005 will be my 5th year in the Tour de Cure. It started when one of my co-workers began asking us if we wanted to ride in the Tour de Cure. It had been a number of years since I had ridden more than 10 miles, but I thought it was a great cause, so I joined the Team.

As I started to raise money for the Tour I discovered my Aunt Roz had diabetes and it gave me another reason to ride and raise more money. My Aunt is the 7th of 9th children on my mothers side of the family and Roz was always ahead of her time. She was one of the first women to join the New Stock Exchange and was one of the first women to join the famous Union League in Philadelphia. I also found out that several of my co-workers had family members with diabetes, including a young woman that is like a 3rd daughter to me.

Riding is also a way for me to stay in shape and provides me a way to train for my Appalachian Trail through hike in early 2007. I feel that I can be an example to others and that my efforts will encourage others to participate in the future.

I am known as "the harv" to my friends!