In 10 days, nearly 1,000 cyclists from 16 states will converge on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to ride their bicycles in the movement to Stop DiabetesSM. Their goal: to complete the Indiana Tour de Cure on June 12 and support the research, education and advocacy work of the American Diabetes Association.

The Indiana Tour de Cure features a 100-mile Track Challenge, 50K and 75K Road Rides and a Recreational Family Track Ride at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway just two weeks after the world-famous 2010 Indianapolis 500 race. Registration is open now through June 12 at http://main.diabetes.org/indytour or 317-352-9226, ext. 6731. All rides kick off at 7:30 a.m. on June 12; walk-up registration will be available starting at 6 a.m. on event day at Pagoda Plaza.

Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 43 states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. The event strives to combat diabetes by promoting good health through exercise.

Diabetes is a chronic disease with no cure that can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage and amputations. Diabetes kills more people each year in the U.S. than AIDS and breast cancer combined. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and continues to grow at near-epidemic rates.

Diabetes is a serious public health issue in Indiana, which outpaces the national average in prevalence of the disease. More than 714,000 Hoosier children and adults have type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes (13.6% of Indiana’s population). One in four of these Hoosiers doesn’t know he or she has diabetes. About 1.6 million more Hoosiers have pre-diabetes, which puts them at high risk for type 2 diabetes — a form of the disease that is often preventable. Nationally, nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes and about 57 million have pre-diabetes.

“Tour de Cure is an important part of the Stop Diabetes movement here in Indiana,” said Jennifer Pferrer, Executive Director of the American Diabetes Association – Indiana Area. “Tour de Cure riders raised more than $250,000 in Indianapolis last year to fuel the research, education and advocacy work of the American Diabetes Association. This year’s Tour de Cure riders are helping us strengthen the impact of the Stop Diabetes movement in Indiana through fundraising and awareness.”

Last year, more than 700 cyclists rode in the Indiana Tour de Cure in a collective effort to fight diabetes.

Special thanks to the national sponsors of 2010 Tour de Cure: Gold’s Gym, Performance Bicycle, Splenda and Sun Crystals.

Additional thanks to the local sponsors of this year’s Indiana Tour de Cure: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Roche Diagnostics, Eli Lilly and Company, McAlister’s Deli, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, Takeda, WXIN Fox 59, 92.3 WTTS FM and NUVO Newsweekly.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION:
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

By Joy Mahoney