On June 6th I will be cycling 75 Kilometers to fight Diabetes in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure fund-raising event. The Tour de Cure is a series of cycling events held in over 80 cities nationwide. I have joined thousands of others to pedal in support of the Association's mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, the top 10 reasons to fight diabetes are:

• Nearly one in ten American adults now has diabetes.

• Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death by disease in the U.S.

• Diabetes is a chronic disease and has no cure.

• Each year, more than 80,000 people with diabetes undergo amputations.

• Diabetes can cause other serious health problems ranging from stroke, heart disease, and
kidney failure.

• The incidence of diabetes has increased by 61 percent since 1990 and continues to rise at an
alarming rate.

• Approximately 20.8 million Americans have diabetes — including 6.3 million who don’t even
know it.

• An additional 54 million people have pre-diabetes, putting them at great risk for developing
type 2 diabetes.

• One out of every three Americans born today will eventually develop diabetes if present
trends continue.

• More than $1 in every $10 spent on health care services in the U.S. is attributable to diabetes. This translates to more than $132 billion direct and indirect healthcare costs (2002 statistics).

If you are interested in helping with a donation, please click on this link. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of more than 20 million Americans who suffer from diabetes and another 54 million people in the United States with pre-diabetes. Each kilometer I ride, each dollar you donate will be used in the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by this disease. Together, we can all make a difference!