Over 1,900 participants took to the streets around Mendon Ponds Park in Mendon for the 20th annual Tour De Cure with one purpose: To support the American Diabetes Association (ADA) mission to “stop diabetes.”
Bicyclists young and old congregated for the Rochester ADA’s fundraising event to support research efforts to cure a disease that afflicts over 22,000 Rochesterians and their families. The ADA supports programs like a community forum, education, and Camp Aspire (the only residential camp for kids with diabetes in the greater Rochester area).
With six different tour distances — which included 100, 62, 40, 25, 15 and 3.4-miles — everyone and anyone, from the casual to the serious rider, was encouraged to participate.
“This is the foundation’s biggest fundraising event and it’s critical for us,” said Dr. Joe Stankaitis, the Rochester ADA’s committee president. “It’s important because it advocates the spread of information and the education of the community. As a physician I see that diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses and, if it’s not addressed, it can be a devastating disease.”
The board’s goal heading into the event was to raise at least $525,000 for diabetes research and education and the community helped surpass that goal, showing up in droves to support the effort. The event surpassed its goal by $12,000, raising $537,000 in total. The tour, which consisted of 129 teams the largest of which was the Mid-Town Athletic Club, featured individual riders of all ages, families who have been affected by diabetes, and 200 volunteers.
The Coykendalls, from Honeoye Falls, are one such family that has been greatly affected by the disease, as 11-year old Liam and 10-year old Carlen have both been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic lifelong disease that is passed genetically. Their mother Gillian and the two kids took part in the 3.4-mile event not only to help raise awareness, but also to empower the children and ensure them that diabetes doesn’t have to hold them back.
“This was our first time doing the ride and it was really fun,” Gillian said. “I think Type 1 education is really important because people think that people generally have diabetes because of a bad diet. I like to have them do things like this because we like to show them that diabetes doesn’t have to slow us down.”
With one in every three people afflicted with diabetes, the Tour De Cure’s message is spreading. The 2011 event was the largest in the tour’s history and there were more “Red Riders” participating than ever before. The red rider jersey was designated for those riders with Type 1 or 2 diabetes and even if they weren’t riding, many were out in support.
Bev Spayde, an Irondequoit resident who was diagnosed in September of 1996, chose not to ride, but was an ardent volunteer for the many tents set up in the main village area of the park. Her message was simple and to the point.
“Get your blood checked regularly, especially if you’re over the age of 45,” she said. “The damage is done before your diagnosis, but if you know you have it you can take steps to take care of yourself.
“This event is awesome and I’m looking forward to going to the finish line to cheer.”
With the outpouring of support and participation for the 2011 tour, the American Diabetes Association hopes that it’s just the beginning of a concentrated effort to “stop diabetes.”
