While summer may seem far off, organizers of one local racing event are looking to recruit participants now, so they can train for the meet.
The Saratoga Tour de Cure is the area's premier cycling event, dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and supporting people living with diabetes and their families. Riders may choose from 10-, 28-, 50-, 62.5- or 100-mile routes.
Nicole DeCelle, market executive director for the American Diabetes Association in Albany and Central New York, says around 2,000 cyclists typically race, one of the largest in the country. "The event this year will be held on Sunday, June 4th, at the Saratoga State Park, specifically the Peerless Pool Area. And we're excited for a greater space to hold the event and a much more celebratory and festival atmosphere. We'll also be enhancing our support throughout our routes with the addition of a water monster water partner this year to provide hydration stations. We'll also be adding things like live music at the post-ride festival. Mazzone hospitality will once again be doing our food."
Ben Barrowman is racing for the fourth year. He is the Team Captain of the AYCO riders group, which is looking to exceed $24,000 they raised last year. "When I first started, Diabetes Type I for me was something that was very private and personal. On the first day of this event, wearing the red shirt, it was my way of first telling the world 'I'm open about being a diabetic, and I was around other diabetics, and what I felt was immense support that day, and pride, to be doing this race with a number of other diabetics. And I loved it so much that, you know I continued to come back the next day, and then a year later I started the team with the company I work at for AYCO, but I continue to wear the red rider shirt, even though I'm a part of the AYCO team because I feel it is the one day that it's for the diabetic. It's their Super Bowl, it's the day where they can really celebrate being a diabetic and celebrate all the work you've done all year to maintain all that goes with it, so it's a day of celebration."
Robert Kivort's brother is diabetic. Robert formed the Kivort steel team; he's raced his bike in the cure for the past decade, burning calories, he says, and having fun. "For many years now we've had well over a hundred riders ride with us, and we've raised anywhere from $90,000 to $140,000. We've been the number one fundraising team in Saratoga now for six years and we've been the number one fundraising team in New York State for five years, and we've been as high as the third highest fundraising team across the entire country where there's anywhere from like 83 to 85 Tour de Cures across the country. So it went from very modest origins to something very big in a relatively short period of time."
Officials say now is the time to sign up and begin training. If you don't ride a bike, DeCelle says volunteers are always welcome: up to 400 are needed to help out with the event. "Registration is open right up until the day of the event. The registration fee is currently $25 and will continue to increase by $5 increments until the day of the event where it's $35. There is a $200 fundraising minimum for participants."
