Kate Durak would say that she is not your typical long distance cyclist.  An avid spinner, Kate was no stranger to a bicycle, but didn’t have any experience with long distances on the open road.  However, she was intrigued by all she had heard about the Ride to Cure Diabetes and was ready for a new challenge.

As the Executive Director of the Breakthrough T1D chapter in Metro Detroit, Kate was very familiar with the RIDE program.  She had heard all of the stories about the unique experience that comes with the camaraderie that forms among the participants in the Breakthrough T1D RIDE.  “You spend several days with each other,” says Kate, “spending meals together, attending organized events and seminars.  You become very bonded.”  The group of cyclists that she met in Tucson is already planning to participate again next year and she is recruiting friends to join her.
The RIDE offered her options from 40-104 miles.  Each RIDE is different, but each site offers different route options for the novice, like Kate, to the experience long distance cyclist.  Next year Kate is doing more training and attempting a longer distance.

As for fundraising, Kate decided to do exactly what Breakthrough T1D suggested.  Every year, as a Breakthrough T1D staff person, she asks Walk participants and families to fundraise and gives them tools to be successful.  She followed the plan to the letter.  Kate flooded her friends with emails, Facebook posts, and personal requests.  She even nabbed a corporate sponsor!  The rest of the office always knew when she got a new donation – she would be so excited she often yelped as the email popped up with notice of a new donation.  And popping up, they did.  The strategy worked! Kate had 98 total donors, with most donations between $5-$250.  She raised her goal 3 times!  In the end Kate raised $11,150!  A few were larger donations, but the bulk were friends and family who wanted to support her for all kinds of reasons.  Many had a connection, many did not.  She found support in the most unlikely places – friends from as far back as grade school and kindergarten joined in support of Kate for such an exciting and worthy endeavor.

With riders like Kate, we will turn Type One into Type None.  Registration for RIDE begins TODAY! Spots fill fast!  For more information or to register for the Ride to Cure Diabetes, go to www.ride.jdrf.org.