The RIDE of our lives..............

January 29, 2012

I RIDE WITH DIABETES.   A simple statement that is on the back of Allison’s Red Rider Jersey that she has been given for the upcoming Chesapeake Bay Tour de Cure bike ride in May. On Friday we visited one of sponsor companies, Easton Cycle and Sport, and they helped Allison get all “geared” up for the ride. I think getting a new bike has inspired her and she is even more excited than ever. As I heard my daughter talking to Ryan Hickey at Easton Cycle and Sport (in picture below with Allison and her new bike) about training for the ride her excitement built and I realized that this RIDE in May would mean a lot to her – friends, family and those like Ryan Hickey of Easton Cycle and Sport (and the many other great sponsors) are taking their time to support Allison and all those with this disease.

As the weekend progressed I kept thinking about the statement: I RIDE WITH DIABETES. Its purpose is to denote that those that wear it are diabetics and they are special and the reason we all ride our bikes in support of one of the many Tour de Cure’s across the country. But as I thought about it more that statement, I RIDE WITH DIABETES, started to take on many more meanings to me.  We all RIDE with something in our lives, but most of us can get rid of our unwanted riders – my daughter however has to have a two person bike with her until there is a cure – probably not the most positive spin on the statement I RIDE WITH DIABETES.  However, it also means that all those that surround a diabetic also RIDE with it, helping them along the way.

As the weekend continued the RIDE of Allison’s life moved forward and it had nothing to do with diabetes. She got her first basket at a basketball game (it was an amazing moment to all those in the crowd – I wish I had videotaped it – it was a once in a lifetime moment!)  Allison, along with her brothers Cub Scout Den ran into the Chesapeake Bay for Special Olympics (January in the Bay is COLD), she played with her friends, she attended church, she watched a movie and she played with her siblings. All these things occurred even with that unwanted RIDER always with her.

Our family RIDES along with her. Her dad and I take on the extra RIDER for her as much as we can - remembering to test her, counting carbs and measuring insulin – we do what we can to give her some freedom from her unwelcome guest. Her brother and sister RIDE with her by constantly watching over her, never letting her be alone and ensuring we are aware if she isn’t feeling right.  Her teachers and nurses at school RIDE with her during the school day watching her closely and making sure she balances her work and fun of education with being healthy. Allison’s friends RIDE with her by caring about her and asking her tons of questions about her disease. Our friends RIDE along with our family by doing the same and watching out for her when our eyes need to be focused on one of our other kids.

I just started promoting the Chesapeake Bay Tour de Cure bike RIDE to our friends and family – I know Allison will be grateful for all the donations that she will receive but I know she would be even happier to have people take the time to RIDE alongside her. This is going to be the RIDE of her life – a moment to feel SPECIAL instead of DIFFERENT – along with a way to raise money that directly affects and impacts her RIDE of life – all the money goes to the American Diabetes Association and is used to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Like everyone else with this disease we did not choose to take a RIDE with diabetes, and if I could kick it to the curb I would not hesitate (it is not our friend!), however we have to figure out how to make the RIDE work with my daughters two person bike.  After all the RIDE of life is too short to not make the most of it. I was just telling my son yesterday that life is not about how long you live but what you do with the life you have – and that is all about how you handle the RIDE.

Please join us for our RIDE and join our team Al’s Pals. We would love to have the RIDE of your life meet up with our life's RIDE for at least this one day!!

Until there is a cure,

Jennifer