By Lauren Bryan | Manager, Fundraising & Special Events
Everyone who participates in Tour de Cure has a story and a reason for riding. Brian Johnson and his daughter, Tegan, both have type 1 diabetes. Brian has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years, and when Tegan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 7, over eight years ago, they got involved with the American Diabetes Association and started Team Tegan and her Daddy at Tour de Cure. Through fundraising efforts over the past eight years, Team Tegan and her Daddy has raised over $49,000, with a goal to raise another $5,000 in 2015.
When Tegan was diagnosed on Christmas Day in 2006, Brian watched his daughter’s life change from what should have been carefree years of fun, growing, and learning, to years of disease management. While she remains an active 15 year old interested and involved in dance, soccer, reading, writing, drawing, jewelry making, homework, and sleepovers, she also has a regular routine of carbohydrate counting, multiple daily blood sugar tests, infusion pump insertions, and constant guessing of how best to keep her body as close to normal as possible. As a family, they work hard to make sure diabetes never slows them down. “Tegan has become an expert at managing this disease. To me, that is both awe inspiring and tremendously sad at the same time,” Brian says of Tegan. “There are no vacations, no miracle cures. Tomorrow is the same as today. Rinse, lather, repeat.”
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The human body needs the hormone insulin to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Only 5% of people with diabetes, 29.1 million nationally with 400,000 cases in Oregon, have this form of the disease. Conversely, in type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly and eventually isn’t able to produce enough to keep your blood glucose (sugar) levels stable. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have pre-diabetes, where blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In our country, over 86 million people, 1.1 million people in Oregon, have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. One third of these people do not know they have it as there are no clear symptoms of pre-diabetes.
Before the Johnsons became involved with the Association in 2006, Tegan faced obstacles with managing her diabetes at school, often missing class time. Tegan was asked to go to the nurse’s office to test her blood sugar levels and administer insulin. Through the American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School program non-medical school staff, such as teachers and administrators, receive training on how to treat and assist students with diabetes, and understand the importance and urgency of proper maintenance. Tegan now manages her diabetes within the classroom and doesn’t have to worry about missing class. “I did awesome in middle school, and now I continue to excel in high school. And I think I’m healthier and safer because I can test more often and not worry about missing class,” says Tegan. “I pray that the cure for diabetes will happen soon. More research is needed to make that a reality. And the support the American Diabetes Association gives families like us with programs such as 'Safe at School' - these all come with a cost,” adds Brian. Fundraising for the American Diabetes Association through Tour de Cure provides the Johnson family an opportunity to support and give back to the important research, programs, and education efforts of the Association from which they have so richly benefited.
Designed for anyone from the casual rider to the experienced cyclist, Tour de Cure has five routes; ranging from the 10-mile family ride to the 100-mile century. Routes feature rest stops with food to fuel the journey and volunteers to cheer riders on to the finish line party that includes food, entertainment, free massages, and activities for the whole family. Tour de Cure brings together people deeply committed to finding a cure for diabetes. This ride is not a race, and embraces the mission of the Association, not the mileage you ride. You do not have to be a cyclist to participate in Tour de Cure. A virtual rider program was established to encourage interested participants a chance to fundraise, but not ride. In addition, with over 200 volunteers needed to make Tour de Cure run smoothly, there is a way for anyone and everyone to get involved with this event.
“Tour de Cure is a great ride,” says Tegan. Brian adds, “We’ve been riding since 2008 and have no plans to stop, since diabetes has not left us yet.”
By Lauren Bryan | Meet Chris - Tour de Cure Red Rider
By Lauren Bryan | Associate Manager, Fundraising & Admin Support
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