Ready, set ... grab your bike and help stop diabetes

(ARA) - Maybe you bike with your colleagues or friends, or perhaps you and your family cycle as a great way to spend time together on a Saturday afternoon. But did you know that by simply riding your bike you could help change the future of one of the country's deadliest diseases?

Take the ride of your life

The American Diabetes Association is encouraging riders at all levels - from novice to experienced cyclists - to help "Stop Diabetes" by participating in the Association's nationwide cycling event, Tour de Cure. By riding in the Tour de Cure, you will help support the Association's mission: to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Last year more than 43,000 cyclists - riders, co-workers, people with diabetes, friends, families and supporters - raised more than $16 million to support diabetes research, advocacy and education.

Diabetes is a deadly disease affecting nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States. Another 57 million have pre-diabetes, a condition that places them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Whether you bike for fun or because you dream of being the next Tour de France champion, bicycling is great exercise that can have significant health benefits. Tour de Cure events feature routes that vary in length and difficulty, from 10-mile family distances to 100-mile "century" rides. It is a ride, not a race, so participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.

Are you a red rider?

If you have diabetes and plan to ride in Tour de Cure, don't forget to join the Red Riders, a program created by the American Diabetes Association to recognize participants who have diabetes.

"The Red Rider program is a way for those of us with diabetes to gather the strength, courage and motivation to live well all the other days of the year when we aren't riding in Tour de Cure," says Mari Ruddy, founder of the Red Rider program. "It gives us an opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication and teamwork it takes to manage this challenging and complex disease. Best of all, when we can give a participant a red jersey that proclaims with joy, 'I ride with diabetes' it brings a face to the disease with the heart, soul and passion of the participants who are riding with diabetes."

Join Tour de Cure to benefit your health and to support the fight to stop diabetes. To register as an individual rider, a Red Rider, start a team, or learn more, visit www.diabetes.org/tour or call 888 DIABETES (888-342-2383).

Courtesy of ARAcontent