New York, November 30, 2020— Over 3,500 riders joined JDRF for the very first JDRF My Ride season which attracted riders from all over the country, even globally, to hit the pavement, their local parks and their indoor trainers to raise funds for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The new “My Ride” program reimagines the traditional ride structure allowing participants to make their experience unique utilizing the slogan “your ride, your distance, and your experience entirely.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many to change their in-person event plans, JDRF My Ride has seen no shortage of spirit, community and inspiration during the season. Corporate partners like Livongo sponsored “Miles towards Mission” challenges to engage the community in fitness and fundraising efforts. Thousands of riders from across the country rode over 33,000 miles and raised over $570,000 as a result of the LivonGO the Distance Challenge. In total, Team Livongo increased their impact this year with 140 riders raising more than $506,000 – a total made even more impressive with the challenges of this year.

On October 2-3, riders convened virtually for the JDRF My Ride Celebration, presented by Livongo, where thousands of riders tuned in to share stories, recognize each other’s accomplishments and celebrate as one community.

“This year, our program faced unforeseen challenges, and we are extremely grateful to our Ride community and our corporate partners for rallying around us as we redefined how we ride together,” said Tara L. Ploeger, Director, JDRF Ride. “The commitment to the JDRF mission drives each rider to Go the Distance.”

The celebration and riding continued on November 14, with the JDRF World Diabetes Day 24-Hour Ride Challenge. Sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the challenge encouraged participants to track their miles to collectively circle the globe while raising awareness for T1D. All funds raised during the challenge will be matched up to $100,000 thanks to generous donors in the Ride community.

To date, JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes has raised more than $50 million for T1D research, including $5 million (and counting) this year alone. Supported in-part by sponsors Ford, Hy-Vee, Livongo, Medtronic and Novo Nordisk, the 2020 My Ride season will continue through the calendar year. To learn more, visit ride.jdrf.org.

About JDRF

JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter: @JDRF.