The 2017 JDRF Ride to Cure season broke all kinds of records for Team Western Wisconsin, otherwise known as the Honey Badgers! This season our team had 114 riders participate in 5 rides across the country. Together, these riders combined to raise $297,000 (& counting!) to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes! This amazing number doesn’t even take into account the miles logged on their bikes preparing for the 100 mile ride. The JDRF Western Wisconsin Chapter may be a little biased, but we think that we have the best team in the country!

The 2017 JDRF Ride season kicked off in La Crosse, WI from August 10 – 13. The JDRF Ride to Cure in La Crosse featured 49 Honey Badgers: Will Birkholz, Joe Brady, William Buchta, Jack Cardwell, Jill Cardwell, Katie Cardwell, Max Cardwell, Michael Cardwell, Mark Crum, Kathy Errthum, Tony Errthum, Brian Fons, Kevin Fons, John Franz, Michelle Hanson, Kayla Howard, Kathryn Jenkins, Gerald Jorgenson, Rebecca Kearns, Karen Klinker, Sara Koopman, Sydney Koopman, Kimberly Koppenhaver, Robin Koppenhaver, Tim Kritter, Chuck Kulas, Kevin Lentz, Ethan Macksam, Kristine Macksam, Brenda Maxwell, Jen Meyers, Brent Moore, Hannah Mueller, Josh Mueller, Kate Nelson, Casey Olson, Lisa Oxton, Brad Quarberg, Lesli Rumpf, Gwen Schroeder, Kinzie Schroeder, Jana Slinger, John Stephens,Caroline Steuer, Brad Sturm, Lynn Sturm, Doug Sullivan, Dean Zimmer, and Mike Zimmer.

Next up in the JDRF Ride to Cure season was Loveland, CO from August 24-26. This was the inaugural Ride in Loveland, but after the wonderful weekend had by all, it surely won’t be the last! Thank you to all 31 Honey Badgers who traveled to Colorado and participated in the Ride: Steve Bahr, Donald Becker, Heidi Becker, Mark Bleifuhs, Cindy Brady, Joe Brady, Jodi Fowler, Andy Graham, Jeanne Grist, Heyward Gualandi, Scott Hagen, Diana Henry, Cindy Johnson, Harvey Johnson, Theresa Kowalski, Jody Montgomery, Stephen Ploch, Patrick Remington, Amanda Ruehl, Jim Sands, Monty Schiro, Reg Schmidt, David Seitz, Eric Seitz, Barry Sievers, Bridget Statz, Jim Statz, Ryan Steel, Michelle Verant, Kevin Williams, and Jon Wolff.

After Loveland, the JDRF Ride to Cure season moved to another new ride venue in Saratoga Springs, NY from September 14-17. This Ride may have only featured 1 Honey Badger, but it was actually the largest Ride of the season! Congratulations to Eric Borchardt, our lone representative for Team Western Wisconsin!

The next JDRF Ride to Cure took place in Amelia Island, FL from October 5 -8. This venue was a favorite for riders last year and was actually the LARGEST peer-to-peer fundraising event to ever happen. The Amelia Island JDRF Ride to Cure was the second most popular Ride for Team Western Wisconsin this year with 34 Honey Badgers participating: Michelle Alswager, Amelia Bauer, Jeffery Bauer, Laura Bauer, Catherine Borchardt, Clare Borchardt, Jan Breisath, Mark Crum, Eloise Eager, Stephen Eager, Kathy Errthum, Gary Gorman, Mallory Gorman, Bob Gorsuch, Amy Gorsuch Eager, Chris Howell, Will Jacobson, Lisa Ruth Krueger, Sheila Magwire, Colton Nelson, Taylor Nelson, Courtney Odorico, Jon Odorico, Dan Rotert, Chris Rotert, Jenny Sheahan, Tom Sheahan, Mike Sugden, Dan White, Jennifer White, Ben Zander, Kathy Zander, Mark Zander.

The final JDRF Ride to Cure of the season will take place in Tucson, AZ from November 16-19. Team Western Wisconsin has 1 Honey Badger registered for the event: David Craig. David is unfortunately not able to attend the Ride anymore, but he did raise nearly $3,00o to turn type 1 into type none—thank you, David!

We are SO grateful for all 114 Honey Badgers, thank you for making a difference in the lives of everyone affected by type 1 diabetes! If you want to join the best team in the country, check out the newly released 2018 JDRF Ride to Cure schedule: