It’s more than a bike ride. It’s more than a charity event. It’s an experience, and a life-changing one at that. Four years ago, I wasn’t a cyclist. If you had told me back then I would be here now, training for centuries and riding 40, 50 or even 60 miles on the weekends, I would’ve called you crazy. If you had told me I’d be featured on the national JDRF website wearing Spandex, I would’ve laughed you out of the room. If you had told me I would’ve raised $8,000 for type 1 research in two years, I would not have believed you. But here I am, riding many miles, featured in a JDRF Rider Spotlight and raising thousands of dollars for research. This year will prove my best yet; I’m certain of that.
I’m taking on two JDRF rides this fall, which means I’ll log more miles on the bike this year than ever before. I also hope to finish my first century this year. (Clarksville, I’m looking at you.) I’ve committed to raising $6,000 for JDRF, more than I’ve ever raised in a single year. But do you know what gives me the confidence to believe I can do this? You do.
I may be the one making the pedals move and shifting the gears, but this is anything but a one-woman show. I’m able to do this because you support me. You rally around me and pray for me. You encourage me and build me up. You ride alongside me in some cases, and in others, you cheer me on from the sidelines. Best of all, you put your money where your mouth is every single year. You share your own stories of diabetes. You share with me why you give and why it matters to you. You tell me to keep going and to keep motivating the next generation. And it’s this support that keeps me going. You keep me going.
This ride is a family affair, from those riding to those at home cheering to those across the globe supporting type 1 diabetes research financially. You matter, your support matters, and you are the reason I keep coming back. So buckle up and hang on tight. We’re gearing up for the best year yet and who knows… maybe this will be the year type one becomes type none!
I’d love for you to experience this amazing adventure on two wheels right alongside me. Registration opens Jan. 22 at ride.jdrf.org. If you’re interested, please reach out. I’ll answer any questions I can, and I’ll support you any way possible. I promise, this won’t be a decision you’ll ever regret!
I am so excited! I can hardly wait until it’s time to ride.
Victoria, I’ll never be able to raise anything near the amount required for me to be able to ride in a JDRF event. But I can help you, and Jeff, and others get there, and that feels just as good. So excited for you that you’re doing two rides this year! Good luck.