Prince Edward Island Tip to Tip for JDRF

Well its official on June 25th, 2011 I will be attempting to cycle from the western tip of Prince Edward Island to the eastern tip in one day. The goal of this trip will be to raise both awareness and funds for Juvenile Diabetes research.

We have chosen to support a specific research project based here in Canada. This project was selected based on having had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Sylvie Lesage the project leader and have her blow us away with the advancements that she and her team have made in achieving the "gold medal" in diabetes research, prevention, care and eventual cure. I would strongly encourage anyone interested to review some of the research she has been doing. http://bit.ly/fX041U

Over the next few days we will be launching a website at: http://www.cycle4jdrf.com/ which will have more detailed information about the PEI ride as well as sponsor pages, and information on how you can track the ongoing progress of the ride as well and importantly a secure donation link. Check back often as there will be lots of detail published to this blog and website.

Thanks everyone.

A Beginning and an End

One more day till we kick off the National Relay out of Halifax. Seems hard to believe six months has gone by this quickly.

We started today off with a great ride along the south shore with some of the crew and other riders from the relay team. Then everyone was off to get ready, for me back to work to finnish off a few things, while the rest of the team was off to finnish getting the RVs ready and food bought etc.

Three Weeks and Counting

After all these months of training, countless spin classes, hours and hours on the stationary bike and some time riding the roads it is coming down to less than three weeks. There have been some great events along the way including one last Friday on the Waterfront here in Halifax.

We setup a great display including a Tandem bike and lots for info about Cyclebetes, the national relay as well as JDRF. Thanks to Andrew for bringing the sun covers as well as the tandem bike.

We were joined by members of the local JDRF crew that came out and helped support the relay and promote the community ride set for the 14th of Aug as the relay team gets set to leave Halifax.

We road for about 7 hours with only some short break for food and water. Talked tons of really great folks out walking the board walk downtown, both tourists and locals. We met this one lady from the cruise ship that was in town that was diagnosed with Type I at the age of 54! She came right up to us and showed us here pump, and made sure she donated to the ride.

I really can't wait to meet the rest of the members of the Maritime's team as well as all the great support team we have been working with from across the country. There are just so many amazing people involved with the organization, and everyone of them willing to do what it takes to not only make this a great event, but to raise the money needed to find that cure we all so desperately want. One thing I know is that once the cure for juvenile diabetes if found, all this great dedication and energy will move to the next need. "Type I Diabetes....Done" whats next "Type II....bring it on"

I will attempt to update this more often over the next week or so....

Stephen

Great ride last night, anyone looking for a great loop ride check out http://www.aspotoganpeninsula.com/ some of the best views you will find anywhere in Nova Scotia.

Five Weeks till National Relay Kick off

I can hardly believe that the time has goon this fast. Seems to me that when I first joined the team, the start date seemed so far away. I kept saying to myself, "I've got months to get ready" well those "months" have turned into weeks. Physically I am feeling pretty good. I have had a few good long rides outside, both at the cottage and around home. Still getting used to the feeling of being in traffic, but that is starting to away the more I ride.

Still doing lots of indoor training at my local Goodlife, works well when I have to travel as well as they are everywhere, been kicking some great Spin classes lately, they have some great instructors. Some of the speed work came in handy last weekend, when I was able to find that other gear and get away from a couple of dogs.

Stephen

Fix You

What an interesting idea...Fix You. No more needles. No more finger pokes for blood tests. No more hospital trips. No more midnight tests. No worries of the longer term health issues. Diabetes Fixed!

I guess this is the dream of every parent, family member or friend of a person living with diabetes. This is what drives us to ask our friends for money to support research, to get involved to raise awareness of what it means to live with diabetes. I guess over the last 18 months all the things that need to be done to keep my daughter healthy, have become so natural in our lives, that when we tell friends, or other people we come in contact with that having diabetes means, a least a 120 injections of insulin a month, 200 finger pokes in order to test her blood sugar, midnight tests, 3:00 am tests they are very surprised. I think a lot of folks they know that insulin is what you take for diabetes so you take a shot and your good. Its not a cure its our life line.

I have just returned from having had the privilege of attending the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Annual General Meeting. Where I met some of the most amazing people, other parents, JDRF employees and researchers, all of whom are so dedicated to the promise of the promise of curing Type I diabetes, what a humbling experience. I encourage you to check out the JDRF website and learn about some of the incredible research work being done in Canada and around the world. www.jdrf.ca

On the theme of Fix You check out the video produced during last years Cyclebetes National Relay, its what sealed the deal for me to get involved and join the ride this year. http://www.vimeo.com/6552324. If it inspires you please donate to http://jdrfca.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=777&participantID=44593

P.s. What a great Fathers Day. Recieved my home made gold award, a nice long training ride on the new bike this morning, then took both girls out to a local trail for a little family ride then back home for great dinner.

Cyclebetes at Halifax Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes

What a great Sunday at the Telus walk to cure diabetes this past Sunday June 13th in Halifax. My daughters team "Team Megan" raised a little over $1,100.00 dollars, contributing to the Halifax total of more than $103,000.00. A number of our friends and family were able to join us for the walk.

The Maritime Relay Team setup an information both during the event to promote the Halifax Community ride we are organizing for morning of the start of the National Relay. We setup a couple of bike trainers and spent a little time spinning prior to and after the walk.

The Morning of the Aug 14th we are planning a great kick off at Black Rock Beach in Halifax including a kids bike obstacle coarse, a 5 and 10 km family ride as well as a 100km ride with the team to Truro.

Friday Rant

Well as any of you that know me know that I am not a political guy, and have always had at least the belief that people elected to run this country were doing it for the most part for the better good. That being said, as a father with a child with a serious health concern (Type I diabetes) I am outraged that the Canadian Government is spending $1,000,000,000 tax payer dollars in order to provide security for the G8/G20 later this month in Ontario, while the country is experiencing health care shortages, funding cuts and forcing hospitals and other service organizations to fund raise money for basic services.

What would $1,000,000,000 dollars to to help cure Juvenile diabetes or at the very least provide essential blood testing/monitoring tools to help manage the long term life with diabetes? How about buying 100,000 insulin pumps, for the children, adults living with Type I diabetes that do not have sufficient medical insurance....that's a start. I somehow see this as a better long term use of money that building a 12 foot fence around a whole of wilderness north of Toronto, or a fake lake. Not only would this provide a better short term treatment, but would continue to save money, as with better treatment and control Diabetics will have far fewer health issues that would lead to even more strain on our health care budgets.