{"id":8157,"date":"2023-03-27T14:44:46","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T14:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/wisconsin\/?p=8157"},"modified":"2025-11-26T20:22:41","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:22:41","slug":"ride-feature-mile-23-origin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/southeastwi\/2023\/03\/27\/ride-feature-mile-23-origin\/","title":{"rendered":"Ride Feature – Mile 23 Origin"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Breakthrough T1D Ride is extra special this year for those who ride in memory of someone they love. Michelle Bauer from Madison and part of Team Wisconsin shares her T1D story, her experience with the Ride and why we honor Mile 23:<\/p>\n

March 3, 2000. A day I thought was the worst day of my life.\u00a0 The day my 3 year old son, Jesse, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.\u00a0 I dropped everything I was doing in my career that year and gave everything to make his life better and to ultimately work toward a cure.\u00a0 Breakthrough T1D walks, galas, Children\u2019s Congress and eventually when Jesse said \u201cMom, I\u2019m too old to be doing this walk thing\u201d… I found the ride program.\u00a0 First stop?\u00a0 2004 Death Valley, California, my first 100 mile ride of my life.\u00a0 No cell service anywhere, I waited in a line of riders at the pay phone that sat in the middle of the parking lot to call 7 year old Jesse to proudly tell him I hit my goal for him.<\/p>\n

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February 3, 2010.\u00a0 The worst day of my life.\u00a0 On that day \u201c\u2154\u201d I lost Jesse to type 1 diabetes at the age of 13.\u00a0 I don\u2019t need to go into what that felt like – feels like.\u00a0 But in the months that followed I thought to myself that all that I had worked toward not only for Jesse, but for all the people I had ridden with would now be gone.\u00a0 After all, who wanted to be around the mom who lost her child to the very disease they live with? That their children live with?<\/p>\n

Jesse himself is the one who \u201cspoke\u201d to me, to stay here and to keep riding.\u00a0 A 2-page handwritten essay on anything he wanted to write about came in the mail entitled, \u201cMy mom is courageous\u201d.\u00a0 And to him, my biggest accomplishment? Riding my bike 100 miles through the desert.<\/p>\n

Death Valley is a special place to me.\u00a0 I\u2019ve dragged numerous people there who always stand at Jubilee Pass (half way) and with tears thank me for getting them to take this journey with me.\u00a0 It\u2019s no surprise it\u2019s where my husband proposed to me in 2018.<\/p>\n

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If you haven\u2019t heard of Mile 23, it was created in 2010 by the ride crew as a mile of silence in memory of Jesse.\u00a0 At Mile 23 we ask riders to ride in silence for that mile not only in memory of Jesse, but all those lost to type 1 diabetes.<\/p>\n

This year Mile 23 is getting some extra love.\u00a0 I\u2019ve recruited over 50 people to join me in the desert and if they can\u2019t ride there, some will ride other venues.\u00a0 Together we will ride 1 mile in memory of my Jesse, and we\u2019ll ride 99 miles to celebrate you and\/or your children.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be special.\u00a0 But, you know what would make it more special? Having you join me. This will be my 9th time in Death Valley and at least my 20th ride. Will this be your first?<\/p>\n

Learn more and join Team Wisconsin by registering today!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Breakthrough T1D Ride is for all cyclists \u2014 beginner or experienced \u2014 who share a commitment to Breakthrough T1D\u2019s mission. Your registration is your doorway into a ride experience unlike any other. With our stunning destination rides across the country, you\u2019ll have the chance to join fellow riders for an unforgettable weekend experience. And, no matter how far you go, you\u2019ll be surrounded by the T1D community\u2014fellow riders, coaches, friends and family, cheering you on at every milestone.<\/p>\n

This year the Ride will take us to 5 destination events:<\/p>\n