PARKER, CO (8/15/18) – The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) invites riders, runners and walkers of all levels to join the celebration and be part of the movement to fight diabetes by taking part in the new Tour de Cure®, a fitness and community event happening on September 8, 2018 at Salisbury Equestrian Park & Sports Complex to help raise funds to support the ADA’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
Every 21 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes. In addition, nearly half of all American adults have either diabetes or prediabetes, which puts them at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes are at significant risk for serious complications including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and lower-limb amputations. As the ADA’s premier fundraising event and one of the nation’s largest series of diabetes fundraising events, Tour de Cure brings together volunteers and participants invested in stemming the diabetes epidemic and funding research to find a cure.
“Tour de Cure is more than just a ride, walk or run– it is a celebration of the ADA’s mission and a chance to raise critical funds to help fight diabetes. Every mile covered and every dollar raised brings us that much more support in fighting this disease that affects 401,000 people in our community,” said Dave Samson, Area Executive Director (CO, MT, UT, WY). “The prevalence of diabetes is growing each year, and action is absolutely necessary.”
Funds raised at Tour de Cure Colorado help the ADA support people through its youth and family initiatives, including multiple camps for children living with type 1 diabetes and those at-risk for type 2 diabetes. Camp fosters fun, independence, self-confidence and expands children’s knowledge of diabetes while making friends who understand what it’s like living with diabetes and creating experiences that last a lifetime. In 2017, 1,120 campers, families and volunteers participated in an ADA Camp program in Colorado. In addition, Tour de Cure helps drive discovery by providing crucial diabetes research funding, and allows the ADA to raise its voice to fight for the rights of all people affected by diabetes.
In addition to the traditional cycling ride, this year’s Tour de Cure event also features a 5k run as well as a 5k walk. The event provides a unique opportunity for businesses, clubs, friends and families to come together with the vision of a life free of diabetes and all of its burdens. Men, women, and children of all ages from around the region will form teams and gather at one of 6 routes to participate in the event.
Tour de Cure is designed for participants of all fitness levels, with 12-mile routes for the occasional cyclist to 100-mile century rides for experienced cyclists, and a 5k that you can walk or run. Routes feature rest stops with food to fuel the journey and volunteers to cheer riders along the way. Participants who have diabetes get VIP treatment. More than 65,000 cyclists and volunteers from across the country participate in TDC events each year.
Sponsored nationally by Eli Lilly and Company, Primal Wear Inc., Performance Bicycle and Culligan Water, and locally by presenting sponsor Primal Wear Inc., Town of Parker, United Healthcare, Parker Adventist Hospital, Amazing Moves Moving and Storage and CBS Denver, Tour de Cure features a variety of routes. Whether short or long, each route is fully supported with rest stops, SAG vehicles and more. This year, there are four cycling routes (100 Mile Century Ride, 63 mile, 32 mile, and 12 mile), as well as a 5K Timed Run and 5K Walk. To register to ride, run, walk or volunteer and for more information go to www.diabetes.org/coloradotourdecure.
About the American Diabetes Association
Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (Association) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the Association supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
