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Help fight diabetes with Tour de Cure

Posted on Apr 21, 2008 in Features

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The Tour de Cure is coming to Birmingham on April 26. The tour, which includes routes for amateur and experienced riders, is also a great way to help people you love who are affected by diabetes. All funds received from the Tour de Cure will go directly to the American Diabetes Association.

Last year’s tour raised almost $13 million nation -wide and this year there are hopes to raise even more to help those suffering from diabetes.

“I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know anyone with diabetes,” said Amanda Baker of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes currently affects 20.8 million Americans. The disease has been increasing since 1990 by 61% and continues to increase today.

There are many precautions people can take to decrease the risk of developing diabetes such as cutting down on sugar, eating fewer carbohydrates, monitoring blood sugar levels and staying active. Tour de Cure is a great way to stay active and decrease the risks of developing diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association reported that 54 million people have pre-diabetes, which puts them at greater risks for diabetes. The event will bring cyclists together in the hopes of getting rid of diabetes once and for all.

Experienced cyclist Jerry Pope knows all about staying healthy and free of diabetes. Pope will be participating in the Tour de Cure and hopes to raise awareness for those suffering from diabetes. “With 20 million people living with diabetes, if you don’t know someone who has it-you will,” he explained. Pope encourages others to keep a positive attitude in life, no matter what tribulations may come.

He knows a lot of about the setbacks that can occur in life. Suffering from a near fatal car accident,

Pope is now a paraplegic. He is grateful to have the opportunity to live, and live he does. Going on many adventures every day, there is no limit to what he can accomplish. “Well, I always take the attitude that the glass is full all the time,” Pope says. “There is no time to feel sorry for yourself.” Pope remembers the tragic day that he was told he would be a paraplegic. “It could have been worse”, he says. Now hand-cycling for team UAB, Pope brings a lot of hope and inspiration into the lives of many people. He has cycled 51 miles and hopes to complete the Tour de Cure’s 62 miles.

Preparing for such a tour does not have to be hard. Pope advises people to do as much as they can and their bodies will adjust allowing them to accomplish much more. It is hard to complete 52 miles on the first day of cycling, but working up to it makes it a lot easier. “I started cycling in 1995, about 13 years ago,” he says.

The American Diabetes Association offers a few tips about how to train for the Tour de Cure. They recommend people first assess their fitness level and increase their mileage gradually.

Also, make sure to plan workouts in order to make it easy to keep them up. Make sure to fuel up on food and water; the body needs lots of nutrients to give energy. And last but not least, cross-train and stretch making it easier for the body to adjust to the training.

The Tour de Cure will begin at 7:15 a.m.with a brief registration and continue throughout the day. Anyone interested in registering should visit www.diabetes.org/cure or call 205-870-5172.

Email: jer1_6to8@yahoo.com