SweetLifeStories Diabetes Blog

The Saturday Albuquerque Century Tour de Cure ride to raise funds toward defeating diabetes was even better than anticipated–despite fighting a high morning blood sugar from my lack of enough sleep! It was so inspiring, in fact, that I made a personal resolution to ride the 3K route next year–about 3.5 miles. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it’s something I’ve never done before, and I’m thrilled to think about it since riding a bike again is a goal of mine for my post-spinal fusion body . . .   

I got to take over 500 photos of most every group start, vendors, volunteers, and individual cyclists. Like I shared in the previous post, it was great to be behind the camera working to capture all the excitement! The only hiccup was that the riders and volunteers practically melted from heatstroke in the record-breaking heat of 102-104 degrees. The beating sun and temp were definite challenges, but food, water, and the mission to make a difference forged a sense of camaraderie that got us through the day.

Met some amazing people, including one family from Santa Fe whose two-and-a-half year old daughter named TRUE (truly!) captured my heart. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just two years of age, but there she was–scooting around laughing and on her tricycle with a mind of her own! What a dynamo! What a hoot! What inspiration!

Thank you, True, all riders, sponsors, and fellow volunteers for giving me a reason to push on.

Hola, mi amigos y amigas! This weekend, I’m off to shoot (with my camera, that is) cyclists in the Albuquerque, NM Century Tour de Cure ride sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Looking forward to everything BUT the early start time, when the first group riding 100 miles officially takes off at 6:30 a.m. That means, as a volunteer worker, I get to be there closer to 5 a.m. As I always retort to my father when he cheerfully reminds me that “the early bird gets the worm,” I really don’t care to add worms to my diet all too often!

Getting up and out at 5 a.m. is not the most ideal way to control my blood sugars, but I know the sacrifice (that’s me this time ’round) has to be made. Will just have to channel the enthusiasm and energy of all 600+ riders to get there and into the zen of great photo ops! Once there, I know my adrenaline will kick in and I’ll be totally into each moment, working the camera from all angles to capture the excitement.

Cool; just thinking about it, I feel (a little) better already about the early hour rise time! Since we are what we sow, I’ll find myself shouting, “Go, cyclists, go!” The more, the merrier, as we come together to raise needed funds to cure diabetes and minimize its impact on so many people’s lives!

Now I’m off to set my alarm clock and hopefully rise bright-eyed to the beat of muzak . . .

Kathy, with her dedicated parents, fundraising for a cure at the New Mexico American Diabetes Association StepOut Walk, Fall 2009. 

What fundraising events or other activities have you taken part in that have made a difference toward improving the lives of people living with the impact of diabetes? Share your efforts and stories!