Celebrating Fifty Years
On June 13, 2010, I will turn 50 years old. While some would celebrate this with a dinner out, a formal party, or a night at the bar, I'd like to do something with a bit more meaning to it.
As it turns out, that will be the same day the Basking Ridge, New Jersey chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will be holding its Tour de Cure cycling event to raise diabetes awareness and funds for its programming activities.
Diabetes Does Not Equal Death
I have been living with Type 2 Diabetes since 2002, and as an active member of the Diabetes Online Community, I am constantly confronted with the need to educate and assist the newly-diagnosed and their families to adopt the lifestyle changes needed to successfully thrive with this condition. The ADA has developed outreach programs for the communities most at-risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, where the lifestyle changes are most difficult, educating these communities, and helping them build strong support structures for people living with diabetes.
Red Riders
One of the ADA's incentives for riders with diabetes to participate in the Tour de Cure is the Red Riders program. Much in the manner that pink ribbons denote breast cancer awareness, a Red Rider jersey indicates that the cyclist wearing it has diabetes. One of my goals is to be a Red Rider at the Basking Ridge Tour de Cure.
The Challenge
After way too many years away from two-wheels, I'm finally getting back into bicycling for fun and fitness. (There's nothing like the feel of the wind rushing through you when you're pedaling down the road at speed, your heart pumping...) Barring anything serious, I know I will be able to do 12 miles, or 25 miles. I have never in my life gone more than 30 miles in a day -- and that, a round trip after a club picnic over a quarter-century ago.
One of the distance options for the Tour de Cure is a 50 mile option.
The love of my life, Frank, suggested the poetic alliteration of aiming to complete the 50-mile ride for my fiftieth birthday.
It's too good a challenge to pass up -- and thereby, "50 for Fifty".
Plan to Celebrate With Me
There are several ways in which you can celebrate this achievement with me and help me meet my challenge:
- Join my "50 for Fifty" team and pledge to ride with me on my fiftieth birthday
- Sponsor me through my Tour de Cure page. $50 is a nice number -- but I understand that the economy is bad, so even $5 will help. That figure too high? Contribute what you can.
- Train with me (local). I am going to need support and training time to get my endurance up to 50 miles, and to be able to tackle the hills. Hopefully you'll also join me on the ride, but I understand the time and commitment may not be there.
- Sign up to ride with me on June 13th.
- Volunteer to work the Tour. Riders like me depend on volunteers to make sure the route is safe, that our rest stops are provisioned, that there are repair and rescue vehicles on the route, and that our presence is accounted for from the time we check in to start the ride until the time we cross the finish line at its end.
Keep checking back for more ways you can support my efforts to reach this goal.
