Dear JDRF Ride Family,

I miss you, and I need you. 2020 and 2021 have been hard on all of us…and we are all trying to keep the spirit of JDRF Ride to Cure alive and looking forward to the day when many of us can say, “I HAD type one diabetes.”

Many of you may think of me as the little engine that could — I am a slow cyclist but I keep moving forward. My COVID recovery has been a lot like that — learning to breathe without supplemental oxygen (except at night and during exercise), fighting through brain fog, dizziness, and fatigue…..and then surprise — post-ICU PTSD.

Today, I can ride a bike indoors at 40 – 50 watts without supplemental oxygen, and my oxygen saturation doesn’t go down as much as it used to.

It isn’t much, but it is progress.

I continue to move forward, and I sure miss our JDRF Rides.  I need those messages I remember hearing as people pass me —
“You’re doing great!”
“Keep the rubber side down.”
“This is the last hill before the finish line.” (Yeah, right. It is a lie that I love to hear.)
“Keep pedaling…..”
“You are out-pacing everyone sleeping-in this morning.”
“You rock!”

Actually, we all need those encouraging messages.
We all need the spirit of each other.

When you feel isolated, frustrated, and alone, go for a bike ride and post it on Facebook so that we can all reply with those encouraging phrases and words that keep us going. Let us know when you receive a donation. We never know which dollar will fund the cure. Every little effort matters. You matter.

 

I was awarded the Spirit Jersey in 2014 at the Lacrosse JDRF ride.  I am not the fastest cyclist.  I’m not even the most competent cyclist.  I am the cyclist that won’t give up.

I remember the Death Valley ride of epic winds where everyone present was virtually awarded the JDRF Spirit Jersey.  This year has been like that.

 

 

We have been part of an epic journey of difficulties collectively.
We are the spirit of JDRF and are the ones to carry that spirit forward.
Will you join me?

So —
Post your rides, no matter how small.
Post your donations and how you achieved them.
Post encouraging words to keep us going.
Ring a virtual JDRF cow bell to keep us pedaling forward.

Just keep going.
Even though we are miles apart we are pedaling together for a future we all believe in.
We can do this for each other.
I look forward to the day we can ride physically together again.
We may all be physically distant, but let’s be socially closer than ever.

-Kimberly Ishoy

 

Kimberly Ishoy was diagnosed with T1D at age 11. She is a JDRF volunteer, JDRF Rider, former member of the JDRF Mountain Valley Board of Directors and T1D Champion! Register to Ride with Kimberly today!