Inspiration on Two Wheels

This past weekend, riders from all over the world traveled to Death Valley, California to participate in JDRF's Ride to Cure Diabetes.

Death Valley.  Doesn't that sound like someplace you want to go ride a bike for 100 miles?!?

These people are my heroes!  They seriously inspire me!

We were asked to make some posters for riders from our local JDRF chapter who were going to be riding over the weekend.  This is what we came up with...

  

Sweetpea made some pictures to add to our poster.  All I said was that we were making posters for people riding their bikes for JDRF and she should draw a picture... maybe about diabetes or whatever she wanted.

Here's what she did...

In case you can't read it, the upper left says Sweetpea's Picture about Diabetes.  Sweetpea is 5 years old and was diagnosed on 4/27/09 at 3 years old.  The right side says "This is me in the hospital when I was sick and throwing up.  I don't like having to go to the hospital."  She is green because "I couldn't find skin color".  So am I - that's me on the left.  The orange thing is her Dexcom and the blue thing is her pod.

This one says the same thing in the upper left corner.  The right side says, "This is you, Mom, holding a juice box to my lips when I couldn't drink."

The blue things on the right are Mom and Dad.  The green thing is the juice box.  The orange thing is her Dexie and the purple thing is her pod. 

I thought her pictures were very sweet!  We put her picture, the Good Luck picture, a picture of Sweets, and a handwritten message together for the poster.

I was happy to help inspire them because they truly do inspire me!  And I am so grateful that people are out there riding their bikes and raising money to bring us closer to a CURE! 

ONE DAY....

This is my goal.
This is my promise.

ONE DAY...

I'm going to ride, too.

Right now - I just can't.  Between teaching and family and diabetes and JDRF Advocacy and blogging and LIFE... I just don't have the time it takes to do it right.  But I will.  And I'm looking forward to it!

Are YOU inspired to get involved?

Did you know that you don't HAVE to ride 100 miles?!?  You can choose your distance - usually somewhere between 30 to 100. 

There are rides each year in:
Burlington, Vermont
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Death Valley, California
and Tucson, Arizona! 

AND - "JDRF partners with USA Cycling to certify all our chapter coaches. Riders are given expert coaching and training by these certified coaches. Even if you are not an everyday cyclist, our trained coaches will work with you to develop a training program based on your individual needs and goals.
Each rider will be assigned to a local or national coach who will help you to track your progress and get you prepared for Ride day. Local coaches help participants set realistic goals, hold group trainings, monitor progress, and provide clinics on everything from form and technique to injury prevention and changing a flat tire. Our JDRF coaches have helped hundreds of athletes accomplish goals they never thought they could achieve". - taken from this site.

Our local riders are the best!  They have a lot of fun!  You can tell that they have formed friendships and connections with each other.   They encourage each other and work together every step of the way. 

And I'm pleased and touched to learn that many of our riders don't have a personal connection to type 1 diabetes!  So get your friends to sign up, too!  After all, diabetes affects all of us. 

You can check out the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes on facebook by clicking HERE.  You'll see some great pics of the weekend's ride!
You can find out more online by clicking HERE.

WAY TO GO, RIDERS! 

We are so very proud of you and so very humbled by and thankful for your efforts!