Why did you join JDRF Ride to Cure?

I was diagnosed with diabetes in January 1988 when I was eleven.  I became a pediatric endocrinologist and eventually a JDRF funded researcher to change the course of T1D.  However, it was not my own T1D that inspired me to ride.  I ride for my daughter who is 9 years old.  She is antibody positive for T1D, which means she has an increased risk of developing T1D.  I ride for those who don’t have T1D yet.  I ride for them to see a day where they no longer need insulin 😊.

What was your favorite part of attending the ride in Amelia Island this year?

My favorite part of the JDRF ride was being surrounded by hundreds of people who were singularly focused on finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.  The power and energy of the JDRF ride community is indescribable.  As an adult living with T1D, it felt very special to wear a unique jersey (just for T1Ds), to see others in the jersey just like me, and to be recognized for the exemplary accomplishment that it is to ride AND manage T1D at the same time.  As a side note, my time in range during the ride was 99%!  Winning!

What would you tell someone if they were on the fence about joining the ride program?

First, you don’t have to be a cyclist and you don’t have to ride 100 miles.  I had never ridden my bike more than 25 miles before the event, and I completed 75 miles and was so proud!  Fundraising is work, but if you share your story, people will come out of the woodwork to support you.  The JDRF ride is a life changing – and enhancing – experience.  Just do it!

Are you interested learning more about the JDRF Ride to Cure program? Join us on January 12th at Fulton Brewing Taphouse for an informational kick off party to the 2023 Ride to Cure season with previous riders and our coaches. RSVP here.