Showing posts with label death valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death valley. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
So This Is It?
Really? This is where I am riding my bike 105 miles on Saturday. What was I thinking!?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
40 Years: Is a cure close?
Forty years ago this year, the parents of children with diabetes formed what is now the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Since the organization's founding in 1970, over $1.4 billion has been raised to support the quest for a cure to diabetes and its complications. This year marks an awkward milestone for JDRF, the 40 year anniversary "celebration." However, what is there really to celebrate? JDRF, as they say, is "in business to put themselves out of business." Since the lights at the JDRF home office in New York City and in the 100+ chapters and branches nationwide are still on, they clearly have more work to do. Details about what has been accomplished and the plans that JDRF has in this, its 40th year.
The irony of this year being the 40th Anniversary of JDRF's founding is that the name of our ride team is "The Shafer Ten Year Team." As I explained last year, we named the team in this way because when I was diagnosed on October 23, 1998, I was told that a cure would likely be found within the next 10 years. Obviously, 12 years later, there is still no cure yet. That is why the Ride to Cure Diabetes and JDRF still exist.
Since I was diagnosed, I have taken what seems like endless shots, tested my blood sugar constantly at all hours of the day and night, and carefully managed food and exercise. However, I am able to take care of myself. The individuals who could really use a cure are the extremely young and the extremely elderly. I do well to take care of myself, but could you imagine managing diabetes for a 16 month old? I'd like to share several numbers of note that may help illustrate the life of any diabetic, not just myself.
Your support of our team is appreciated! If you can donate, great, but if not, please know that your thoughts and prayers are needed for our quest to find this cure.
The irony of this year being the 40th Anniversary of JDRF's founding is that the name of our ride team is "The Shafer Ten Year Team." As I explained last year, we named the team in this way because when I was diagnosed on October 23, 1998, I was told that a cure would likely be found within the next 10 years. Obviously, 12 years later, there is still no cure yet. That is why the Ride to Cure Diabetes and JDRF still exist.Since I was diagnosed, I have taken what seems like endless shots, tested my blood sugar constantly at all hours of the day and night, and carefully managed food and exercise. However, I am able to take care of myself. The individuals who could really use a cure are the extremely young and the extremely elderly. I do well to take care of myself, but could you imagine managing diabetes for a 16 month old? I'd like to share several numbers of note that may help illustrate the life of any diabetic, not just myself.
- Diagnosed for nearly 139 months, roughly 4,170 days.
- Test blood sugar approximately 25,350 times.
- Used over 209,000 units of insulin totaling over 209 vials (roughly $100 each)
Your support of our team is appreciated! If you can donate, great, but if not, please know that your thoughts and prayers are needed for our quest to find this cure.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The First Ride
Welcome to the 2010 edition of the The Shafer Ten Year Team blog!
Last year was the first time that we participated in JDRF's Ride to Cure Diabetes event. It was a great experience and with your support, we raised almost $9,000 for diabetes research to help find a cure for the devastating disease as well as its complications. When we set out to train and fundraise for the 2009 event, we did not know how great the experience would truly be. Throughout the training we learned about the physical demands caused by cycling. Throughout the fundraising we learned about the generosity of our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the community. Finally, throughout the "Ride Weekend" in Sonoma, we were reminded that we are not alone in our fight for a cure. The whole experience was certainly life changing in several ways and now we are poised to do it all over again in 2010.
I will be riding in Death Valley, CA on October 16th in what is JDRF's most popular ride destination. Death Valley was also the first location to ever host a Ride to Cure Diabetes event over a decade ago. Jessica and I will be training and fundraising together and this year's goal is $3,000. At the event this year, Jessica will be volunteering and I will be shooting to finish the 105 mile route in the hot California desert!
Please, join us again on the journey as we continue to fight for a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. If you are not familiar with our ride experience from 2009, you can visit last year's blog at http://10yearcure.blogspot.com/. Of course, you will be able to find out the latest with our progress for this year by visiting this site often and by following us on twitter at http://twitter.com/aashafer.
Stay tuned for more information and thank you in advance for your support!
- Andrew
Last year was the first time that we participated in JDRF's Ride to Cure Diabetes event. It was a great experience and with your support, we raised almost $9,000 for diabetes research to help find a cure for the devastating disease as well as its complications. When we set out to train and fundraise for the 2009 event, we did not know how great the experience would truly be. Throughout the training we learned about the physical demands caused by cycling. Throughout the fundraising we learned about the generosity of our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the community. Finally, throughout the "Ride Weekend" in Sonoma, we were reminded that we are not alone in our fight for a cure. The whole experience was certainly life changing in several ways and now we are poised to do it all over again in 2010.
I will be riding in Death Valley, CA on October 16th in what is JDRF's most popular ride destination. Death Valley was also the first location to ever host a Ride to Cure Diabetes event over a decade ago. Jessica and I will be training and fundraising together and this year's goal is $3,000. At the event this year, Jessica will be volunteering and I will be shooting to finish the 105 mile route in the hot California desert!
Please, join us again on the journey as we continue to fight for a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. If you are not familiar with our ride experience from 2009, you can visit last year's blog at http://10yearcure.blogspot.com/. Of course, you will be able to find out the latest with our progress for this year by visiting this site often and by following us on twitter at http://twitter.com/aashafer.
Stay tuned for more information and thank you in advance for your support!
- Andrew
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