Meet Shaun: I’m a certified personal trainer and licensed massage therapist. I received my M.S. in Exercise Science from George Washington University. Though originally from Virginia Beach, I have lived in Washington, DC since 2003. I enjoy being physically active and use the sport of triathlon to keep myself fit. I have completed two Ironman events in the past, but now like to stick to the short-course distances.

Why JDRF? What motivates you? I volunteer for JDRF to be more involved in the advocacy agency that represents my partner, Glenn Ballard.

What do you look forward to in your volunteer role as Ride Coach? I like being involved in the T1D community because it espouses the values that I respect and strive to reflect: humility, resiliency, and compassion toward others. I also enjoy facilitating others’ physically active experiences.

Meet James: I am an attorney at the Washington, DC office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, a global law firm. My practice focuses on tax and real estate matters. I am a husband and father, with three children, aged 14, 11 and 8.

I am an avid cyclist and bike tinkerer. I love riding bikes, fixing and maintaining bikes, and reading about bikes. To my wife’s chagrin, I enjoy buying bikes. I enjoy following professional cycling. One of my favorite cycling-related quotes is: “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race” (H.G. Wells).

Why JDRF? What motivates you? My son Jonah (age eight) was diagnosed with T1D when he was two. I was introduced to JDRF when Jonah received a Bag of Hope from JDRF while he was in the hospital. My wife, Meredith, and I started volunteering for JDRF soon after, as a way to learn about T1D and to find support in the T1D community.

When I learned about the ride program, I knew right away that it was where I wanted to devote my time. I started in the ride program as a rider in the inaugural Burlington, Vermont Ride to Cure. I found that I enjoyed planning rides and helping novice riders. I became a coach in 2012.

What do you look forward to in your volunteer role as Ride Coach?  I look forward to helping riders learn how to get more enjoyment on their bikes. My primary methods are introducing riders to beautiful country routes they might never encounter otherwise, and also helping riders to ride with more efficiency and comfort. Most of all, I try to make training for the JDRF Ride to Cure fun!