Fundraising Begins Today

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Dear Family and Friends:

One year ago, it was with much anticipation that Jessica and I participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ride to Cure Diabetes event for the first time. This experience is one that many told us would change our lives and our outlook on diabetes and the hope for a cure. After participating in the experience in June 2009 for the first time, our prior conceptions of the event coupled with our deep desire for a cure combined to produce a feeling of accomplishment and a reinvigorated hope for that cure! The whole ride weekend helped us realize that this hope for a cure extended far beyond our own family.

We had a wonderful experience in 2009 and thanks to your generous support we were able to raise almost $9,000 that was directly deposited into JDRF’s account for a cure. The research that is being funded by JDRF is some of the most innovative in the world and in 2009 over $101 million were contributed directly to research initiatives. However, if a cure is not found by 2025, it is estimated that over 380 million people worldwide will be faced with diabetes.

For its second consecutive year, The Shafer Ten Year Team continues its quest for a cure by participating in the Ride to Cure Diabetes. I will be riding while Jessica will be volunteering at the event this year. We will be participating in the Death Valley, CA event on Saturday, October 16th. The 105 mile route will wind through hot Death Valley National Park just east of the California/Nevada state line.

Once again, we are writing to ask your support for a cure by contributing to our fundraising efforts for the 2010 Ride to Cure Diabetes. Your gift goes directly to research and does not cover any travel related costs for the event. Donations can be made by cash, check, or online transaction. Online gifts are quick, simple, and secure and a link to the online donation site can be found on our 2010 blog at http://shafer2010.blogspot.com. Checks should be made out to JDRF and can be mailed to our home address.

Just as it was last year, our team name is The Shafer Ten Year Team. When I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1998, I was told that a cure for the disease would be found within 10 years. Now, going on 12 years later, there is still not a cure. Here we are in year two of our ten year team. I am going to do the training, sweating, pedaling, and fighting on the road. All that I ask is that you consider a gift to our cause!

No matter the size, please know that every gift, big or small, makes a significant impact in our fight. Whether you can make a cash contribution or not, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during training and the actual ride event on Saturday, October 16th.

I am very thankful for each of you and your support, you are the Type III Diabetics in my life and for details on what that means you can visit our blog’s May 24th entry. Additionally, you can follow our progress over the next several months via the blog or on Twitter. Thank you for your support both financially and morally during this entire process. We are The Shafer Ten Year Team, riding again in 2010!

Sincerely,
Andrew