MOUNT LAUREL — A team of local cyclists is heading west to raise
funds and awareness for juvenile diabetes.
Representing the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s South
Jersey chapter, the group will travel to Lake Tahoe, Nev., and
Tucson, Ariz., this fall for charity rides hosted by the national
organization.
Four members will participate in the 72-mile Tahoe ride Sept.
11; five will join the 100-mile Tucson event Nov. 19.
In preparation, the South Jersey chapter’s eight-member team has
been meeting semiweekly for training sessions. The members have
been riding 15 miles at a time, taking about 90 minutes to cover a
loop that starts and ends in Mount Laurel but extends into
Medford.
Coach and trainer Mike Chadwick said although the cyclists face
a long road ahead, their riding challenges pale in comparison to
what people living with Type 1 diabetes go through every day.
A former college athlete, the Woolwich, Gloucester County,
resident has firsthand knowledge of those challenges, which involve
daily blood sugar testing and insulin injections. He’s been living
with the disease since 1982 and said he’s seen its prevalence rise
dramatically over the years.
“More kids are dealing with it, and more families. It affects
everyone,” Chadwick said.
His “Ride for a Cure” teammates can attest to Chadwick’s
statement.
Scott and Rachel Kasper of Mount Laurel are parents to three
boys, two of whom have Type 1 diabetes. They said the family
focuses on the disease a great deal every day, such as counting
carbohydrates and units of insulin, checking food ingredients, and
dealing with unrelenting worry.
Scott Kasper, vice president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation’s South Jersey chapter and director of emergency
services for Virtua, said the family is sometimes forced to cancel
activities at the last minute because of diabetes complications,
such as sudden illness or a malfunctioning insulin pump.
He and his wife get out of bed multiple times during the night
to make sure their boys are OK. They expect the unexpected.
“I’m never without my cellphone,” Kasper said.
Caren Frank, chapter president and an Evesham resident, had a
cousin with Type 1 diabetes, and Fred Sachs of Cherry Hill is the
father of a young man who has lived with the disease for 13 years,
since age 11.
The team also includes Gerald Feigin of Sewell, Gloucester
County, and Linda Johnson of Cherry Hill, who is national director
of strategic alliances for the nonprofit foundation.
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 cannot be managed by diet and
exercise, nor can it be cured. Affected children rely on insulin
for the rest of their lives.
The ultimate mission of the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation International is to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The
organization says it is the “worldwide leader in funding research
to cure Type 1 diabetes,” and continues to work on developing new
and better treatments to improve the quality of life for
diabetics.
To help continue funding its research, the foundation is holding
a series of five “Ride for a Cure” events this fall. In addition to
the dates in Arizona and Nevada, rides will be held in Burlington,
Vt.; La Crosse, Wis.; and Death Valley, Calif.
On a recent weekday evening, some of the members gathered with
team supporters on Brookwood Road in Mount Laurel before their
training session began. The cyclists warmed up with a few quick
laps on the quiet, residential street, joined by the foundation’s
Youth Ambassadors. The children, who have Type 1 diabetes, rode
bicycles alongside the team.
Team members vary in their levels of cycling and fundraising
experiences.
“Some people are better at fundraising. Some people are better
at the fitness end. We try to pool our resources to help each other
out,” Chadwick said.
The Tuscon event is the first ride for which Frank has ever
registered. A self-proclaimed recreational rider, she has been
logging up to 40 miles at a time on weekends with her teammates.
The team plans to increase the length as the ride gets closer.
Frank said she views it as a personal challenge and an
opportunity to “do something different,” in addition to supporting
the main objective.
Chadwick said the ongoing research makes the efforts worth it.
In the 28 years since he was diagnosed, he said, he has seen great
advancements in the treatment of diabetes.
“All of it comes from JDRF research,” he said.
Since it formed, the local team already has raised thousands of
dollars and is continuing to collect money and sponsors. By late
July, its total tally for both rides had reached almost
$40,000.
To make a donation on behalf of the team, visit
www2.jdrf.org/goto/teamkasper.
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