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American Diabetes Association Announces 2015 Saratoga Tour de Cure

American Diabetes Association

The cycling event has grown over the years and is now the largest fundraising event in New York’s Capital Region.

With a celebration Thursday night at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia, the American Diabetes Association is scheduled to provide an overview of this year’s Tour de Cure on Sunday, June 7th.

With more than 2,400 participants last year, the race raised $1.3 million for diabetes research.

Tour de Cure Associate Director Denise Nicastro said the event is open to riders of all ages and skill levels.

“We promote it as a ride, not a race, so there is no competitive feeling at all day of event, that you can go out and enjoy a ride in the beautiful foothills of the Adirondacks, come back to a great lunch, and really, just overall, have a great time.”

The Saratoga Tour de Cure is ranked first in New York for dollars raised and trails just California’s Napa Valley nationwide. Nicastro said this year she hopes the event will attract 2,700 cyclists.

“This could be quite honestly the year that we could possibly, and potentially, be the number one tour in the country.”

There are 85 tours nationwide.

At the kickoff dinner tonight, local radio personality Jim Steele will be a guest speaker and will also return in 2015 as a “Red Rider.”

Steele said he will speak about his experiences of living with Type 1 diabetes for the past 37 years and his participation in the event.

“Last year, just about 2 and a half months or so ago, my 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. So I participated in the Tour de Cure for two years now, and in my third year I have an added motivation in that I’ll be riding with and for my daughter.”

As diabetes becomes a more common disease, Steele, who this year will participate on a team called “Sweet Broadcasters,” reflected on the eagerness of riders in the Capital Region to participate.

“It’s just everywhere you turn, it’s all around. You can’t look at someone and tell that they’re diabetic, but you know from hearing stories in the workplace and people that you meet on a regular basis, you just find that it’s all over,” said Steele. “One of the things about the Capital Region is that people do seem to latch on to something of this size in order to be a part of it and help out.”

The event that will begin at Saratoga Springs High School will include routes for riders of all levels, including 10, 28, 50, 62.5, and 100 mile courses.

For more information visit: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?pg=entry&fr_id=10193

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
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