Submitted by: Russell Moore, Executive Director of Southeastern PA and Southern NJ Region, American Diabetes Association
Diabetes is an epidemic. Nearly 26 million Americans, including one in nine people in Philadelphia, are affected by the disease. Left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to life-threatening heart, nerve, kidney and even vision complications. That’s why it’s so concerning that a quarter of those affected by diabetes are not aware that they have the disease. The numbers grow higher still when you consider pre-diabetes. Approximately 79 million, or one third of American adults have pre-diabetes, meaning they are at a much higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If these current trends continue, one in three American adults will have diabetes by the year 2050.
So what can you do? Join the movement to Stop Diabetes. Get on your bike and take the ride of your life in the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure.
Sunday, June 5 marks the 20thannual Tour de Cure cycling event, a fundraiser that supports diabetes research, advocacy and education. Through registration fees and pledges collected by participating riders, the Greater Philadelphia Tour de Cure is targeting a goal of $250,000 raised for the 2011 event.
Designed for everyone from the occasional to the experienced cyclist, the Tour offers 3-, 12-, 33- and 61-mile circuit routes that begin and end at Temple University’s Ambler campus. The course travels through scenic Montgomery and Bucks Counties with rest stops and snacks to fuel the journey and volunteers to cheer riders on. After the ride, cyclists will enjoy a finish-line celebration with live entertainment, food, massages and activities for the whole family.
“Many people will participate in the Tour de Cure for the competition, camaraderie and physical challenge. But the real reward comes in knowing that every mile you ride and every dollar you raise brings us closer to stopping a disease that affects such large numbers in our community,” said Russell Moore, Executive Director of the ADA’s Central, Southeastern PA and Southern NJ Region.“With diabetes growing at a startling pace, the need to raise funds to fight and stop this disease has never been greater,” Moore added.
The Greater Philadelphia Tour de Cure is one of 80 cycling events held in 43 states. In 2010, more than 50,000 cyclists nationwide raised nearly $17 million to support the mission of the ADA: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of the nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States who are affected by the disease.
You can make a difference. Start a chain reaction. Register yourself. Ask a friend. Start a team. Be a part of the solution to stop diabetes. Please call 610-828-5003 x4629, or visit http://main.diabetes.org/tourdecurephilly today.
