July 20 2009 |
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My Red Rider Story
“You know you don’t own a bike” was Jan’s, my wife, response nine years ago when I told her I had decided to mark the one year anniversary of heart surgery- a quadruple by-pass- by riding the twenty-five mile course in the 2001 American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure. Not only did I not own a bike but could only recall riding once in the previous thirty-five years. While I had always exercised, the heart surgery- more the result of a family history than thirty-three years of complication free diabetes- had moved daily exercise to the top of my priority list. So after the surgery I followed the doc’s orders and participated in a three month cardiac rehab exercise program and then began a five or six day a week exercise regime. But after three months boredom set in, a reason of course that many people stop exercising. A goal other than going to the gym every day was needed. It came in the form of the Tour de Cure, coincidentally scheduled for the anniversary week of the surgery. So I began riding my new hybrid, not the slickest bike in the world, three days a week and swimming twice. With the first ride I felt like death after eight miles. But each week I added two miles to the longest ride and long before the Red Riders were created I celebrated the one year anniversary by completing the twenty-five miles without a problem. The successful ride was bolstered by success at Jan’s and my first fund raising effort ($5,800) and learning an important lesson: that the key to fundraising is to ask people. Ask and they will give; don’t ask and they won’t. As miles in the saddle mounted, a passion for riding developed. With my fourth Tour in 2004 I began riding longer distances, climbing in the Rockies outside of Denver, actually wearing spandex, and clicking off the miles on a slick Serotta Fierte as a new ride. The Tour became an annual event as did annual fund raising which is integral to the Tour. For me the ride is just half of the Tour. The other half is raising money so the ADA can continue to aggressively pursue its mission “to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” I missed the ride in 2007 while dealing with a bit of lung cancer but discovered the Red Riders when I came back in 2008. The exercise always helps recovery from an illness but every time I ride the Tour and turn in my checks it provides a greater sense of control and empowerment over my diabetes. Raising money to fight diabetes becomes one more step towards diabetes control that goes beyond blood glucose and A1Cs. In 2008 that sense of empowerment in the fight against diabetes increased as I saw Red Rider jerseys all around. Young elementary school age "Red Riders" in their jerseys to guys actually older than me (sixty-two). We acknowledged each other along the route and received recognition from those riders lucky enough not to have Red Rider jerseys. From conversations with others it is clear that this sense of empowerment was not unique to me. I look forward to ‘Red Riding’ for many years to come and encouraging others to take a step forward in their battle with diabetes by becoming a Red Rider. Forty-two years type 1, heart surgery, lung cancer and asthma have not stood in the way for me. So forget the excuses, get a bike, and start putting on some miles and raising some dollars. A few at first, a few more each week and perhaps we will ride together for a few miles at the Tour de Cure and share the empowerment that comes from standing up to diabetes. At various times over the last thirty years Steve has been an ADA contributor, volunteer, and on the Government Affairs and Advocacy staff. He can be reached at
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