{"id":11307,"date":"2025-08-18T20:05:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T20:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/greaternymetro\/?p=11307"},"modified":"2025-11-06T01:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T01:35:09","slug":"side-by-side-a-father-and-sons-first-breakthrough-t1d-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/nyc\/2025\/08\/18\/side-by-side-a-father-and-sons-first-breakthrough-t1d-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"Side by Side: A Father and Son\u2019s First Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Breakthrough T1D Ride<\/a><\/strong> community has been Jon\u2019s second home for more than two decades, and this year marks a special milestone\u2014his first Ride alongside his 13-year-old son, Marlon.<\/p>\n

Since his T1D diagnosis in 1979, Jon has been deeply connected to Breakthrough T1D\u2019s mission as a longtime Ride coach and Greater New York Chapter Board Member. He has an impressive track record, logging nearly 40 Rides, coaching countless cyclists, and serving as a T1D champion on and off the road. He recently rejoined the Breakthrough T1D Coach Corps for the first time since 2019, volunteering as a myRide<\/strong><\/a> Coach to support local riders through training, recruiting, and awareness-building efforts. His sister, Robin, even took on the Ride twice herself, carrying the family\u2019s commitment to ride for T1D breakthroughs.<\/p>\n

Jon lives in Mamaroneck with his wife, Lindsay, and their two children. His passion for the Breakthrough T1D Ride is deeply personal, not only because of his own T1D diagnosis, but because his daughter and sister also live with the condition.<\/p>\n

This year, their family tradition evolves as Jon and Marlon gear up to ride together in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from August 21-24<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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All Grown Up and Ready to Ride<\/strong><\/h4>\n

For Jon, riding with Marlon isn\u2019t just a proud parenting moment, it\u2019s something they\u2019ve looked forward to for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarlon has been coming to rides since he was 5 months old. My wife, who also participated for the last 21 years as a rider and volunteer, carried him in a baby carrier at a rest stop in Vergennes, Vermont. He\u2019s been ready to Ride for years, but now he\u2019s finally old enough.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The pair has been training together this summer, riding around Rye and Mamaroneck whenever they could.<\/p>\n

For Marlon, it\u2019s about joining a movement that\u2019s been a part of his life for as long as he remembers.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy reason for riding is to support my family and friends. There are many people in my life such as\u00a0my sister, my dad and my aunt who live with T1D. I\u2019m excited to be a rider, because I\u2019ve been wanting to ride for years and this is my chance to do something good.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Advice from a Coach (and Dad)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jon is no stranger to giving guidance to first-time riders, and when it comes to his son, his advice is simple:<\/p>\n

\u201cTake it at your own pace, enjoy the ride\u2014and take out your headphones!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why the Ride Community Matters<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Since first saddling up in Death Valley, California, in 2003, Jon has found a unique kind of belonging in the Breakthrough T1D Ride community\u2014one that\u2019s shaped who he is today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the first place and the first community I\u2019ve been a part of where T1D is celebrated. It\u2019s where we elevate our own possibilities to live not just a better life, but the best life.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That sense of celebration and support has transformed him in ways he didn\u2019t expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve become the person I didn\u2019t know I always wanted to be\u2014a community builder, a T1D role model, and someone who, even at 46, surprises himself.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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What\u2019s Next<\/strong><\/h4>\n

On Saturday, August 23, Jon and Marlon will finally take on their first Ride together in Santa Fe. It\u2019s more than a bucket list moment; it\u2019s a reflection of something bigger. Riding together represents their shared commitment to action, advocacy, and hope. The Reitzes are continuing a family tradition truly rooted in resilience, pedaling toward a future where T1D no longer shapes their lives.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Jon and Marlon?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Join the Breakthrough T1D Ride, cheer on Marlon and Jon, or support Ride in other ways. Learn more at Breakthrough T1D Ride<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Watch the Reitzes\u2019 annual fundraising videos:<\/strong><\/h4>\n