Support Me in Tour de Cure!

I will be cycling 64 miles in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure fundraising event. Please support me with a donation by selecting the "Sponsor Me" button. Our efforts will help set the pace in the fight against diabetes. So let's get in gear and ride to Stop Diabetes!

Help Make a Difference in the fight against diabetes!

Each mile I ride, and the funds I raise will be used in the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes,including my family as four years ago my 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.This year she rides with us!

No matter how small or large, your generous gift will help improve the lives of nearly 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!

Shifting Gears for a Child

By James Combs

When it came to undertaking one of the most grueling physical challenges of his life, Bruce Bender didn?t have to look very hard for inspiration. His beautiful daughter, Ansley, provided all the motivation he needed to complete the 54-mile Tour de Cure, a nationwide cycling event that raises money for the American Diabetes Association.

Bruce reflects back on that horrific day in March 2010 when Ansley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Her blood sugar reached a dangerously high level of 600, and she had lost 10 pounds in two days. Her eyes were sunken, her body was dehydrated and she was nearing unconsciousness. She was hospitalized for six days at Arnold Palmer Children?s Hospital in Orlando.

"It was a scary day for me and my wife, Deanna," Bruce said. "When you hear your daughter is facing a life-threatening situation, it is unbearable."

Since then, Ansley, now 10, has battled the disease like a true champion. She follows a strict diet regimen, administers her own insulin shots and faithfully checks her blood-sugar level after each meal. Bruce decided to battle the disease right alongside Ansley?using pedal power as his weapon.

He began training for the Tour de Cure last

January, huffing, puffing and sweating his way around Silver Lake and various bike trails in Lake and Citrus counties. He was accompanied by his friend, Dr. Benjamin Burnsed.

"The first day we trained we rode over 20

miles," Bruce said. "I had never ridden more than five miles on a bicycle before that day. I was grossly out of shape and weighed 242 pounds. By training for and participating in the race, I was accomplishing two things. First, I could serve as a role model for my children

by getting in shape. Secondly, I could help support diabetes prevention and research."

Both goals were met. Bruce lost 30 pounds during training. And his six-member cycling team, named Team Mandalor, raised $11,743 for the Tour de Cure, which was held March 5 at Lake Nona in Orlando. For their efforts, Team Mandalor was recognized as the "Rookie Team of the Year" and the "Team With the Best Fundraising Average."

In addition to Bruce and Dr. Burnsed, the team featured pilot James Roach, police officer Cregg Dalton, Dr. Adrian Finol and lawn maintenance owner James Vallon. Each team member was more than willing to do their part in fighting diabetes, which, according to the American Diabetes Association, affects an estimated 17.9 million Americans.

"As men, our instincts often cause us to become complacent in our habit patterns and we don?t make the changes we may need to," said James Roach. "But this instinct of complacency is trumped when we become fathers by our desire to protect, to fight and to problem solve on behalf of our children. As fathers and teammates, we could all relate to Bruce and what he would do for his daughter, because each of us would do the same for our own. 

See Ansley Here http://www.clickorlando.com/Peddling-to-cure-Diabetes/-/1637238/9320272/-/dcugj8/-/index.html