By: Laura Rosseisen – JDRF Rocky Mountain Chapter Executive Director

I love the view from my bike.

I go places and see things I can’t go or see from a car – or while on foot. I often ride with friends, but enjoy the solitude of my thoughts while I pedal mile after mile. I started riding years ago when the arthritis in my feet and back restricted my ability to run as often as I wanted. I still run several times a week, and swim a few days a week too. I love to ski and hike and snowshoe. But riding is something that lets me push myself to the limit, whether I’m doing a challenging training ride up Lookout Mountain or enjoying one of Colorado’s many organized cycling events like Elephant Rock or Copper Triangle. When I push myself, I know I can rebound by fueling up with simple hydration and energy snacks, and stretching a few sore muscles.

What I don’t have to do when I ride is carefully monitor my blood-glucose levels to make sure they don’t get too low. I don’t have to worry about balancing insulin, food and the physical exertion of being on my bike. I don’t have to worry about adjusting the basal rate on a pump or eating to compensate for insulin injections – or worry about delayed-onset hypoglycemia hours after a ride.

I don’t have to worry about those things because I don’t have type one diabetes.

But I ride for those who do.

I’ll be doing my third JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes this fall, enjoying the views of Sonoma in Northern California on August 24. The Sonoma ride is one of five JDRF Ride events around the country this year that features lively seminars, excursions around local towns, award dinners and team celebrations. The JDRF ride community includes other riders (some with T1D, others with children or partners with T1D), coaches, friends and family. It is a community of people who are supportive; kind; encouraging and motivating; and, like JDRF, focused on raising money to improve lives and accelerate breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.

The JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes program is also a chance for me to invite my network of friends and family to join me in being part of something very special. Their donations to my ride support JDRF-funded research that has delivered life-changing therapies and will one day find a cure for T1D.

Consider joining me. Register for a ride today. Whether you choose to ride 25, 60 or even 100 miles, there’s still plenty of time to get ready.

And I promise – you’ll love the views.