UPDATE: The Tour de Cure of Lake Nona has been postponed until later this spring due to the growing concerns of COVID-19. The Tour de Cure at Lake Nona team will make an announcement no later than Friday, May 1st to share details of a rescheduled event.

On March 29, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will host its annual fundraising event, Tour de Cure, at Lake Nona Town Center in Orlando. Tour de Cure events raise money for research, advocacy, programs and education to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Tour de Cure places a huge emphasis on being accessible to anyone who wants to contribute their time and energy to furthering the mission of the American Diabetes Association. Participants can choose to ride, run, walk or even participate in the event virtually. When participants register for the Tour de Cure, options include: 

• General Participant (Select your route; ride, run or walk)
• Team Captain (Lead a company team or family/friend team)
• Future Champion (Set your goal to $1,000 or more)
• Participant living with diabetes (Type 1, type 2, gestational)
• Virtual Participant (Unable to attend event day but committed to supporting the diabetes community, fundraising for your local event, and earning recognition gifts)

Additionally, anyone who is living with diabetes can register Red Rider or Red Strider, so the community of supporters can rally behind them. 

“I have been a diabetic for over 36 years, and the ride showed me more support than you will ever know,” says Kara Landorf from Landorf Pricks. “Nothing better than hearing, ‘Go Red Rider!’”

For other participants, like Alice Slaughter Flowers from Ride4Rose, Tour de Cure is enjoyable because of “the fellowship and feeling of accomplishment shared with other participants who have the same goals.”

To partake in Tour de Cure, participants commit to a fundraising goal. All fundraising efforts support the ADA’s vision for a life free of diabetes and the burdens that come with it. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization with a mission to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of individuals affected by diabetes. Through these types of fundraising efforts, the ADA is able to fulfill its goals and mission. As recognition from the ADA, participants will earn Recognition Gifts at milestones to show appreciation for commitment to the mission. Everyone is encouraged to participate and bring friends, family, co-workers and more along for the ride, run or walk. 

The day of the Tour de Cure event is meant to be like a party to show support for those individuals with diabetes, to celebrate everything that has been accomplished through fundraising, and to promote awareness about the American Diabetes Association as well as about diabetes.

“My team participates every year and never fails to have a great time,” says Dawn Atanasio from TeamOne. “Every year, we make more friends with other cycling clubs – becoming one big happy cycling family.”

For the Lake Nona event, participants can register to join the Nona Cycle team. The team welcomes walkers and runners as well as cyclers, and more information can be found online by searching Nona Cycle Tour de Cure team.

For more information about how you can participate in Tour de Cure at Lake Nona Town Center, please visit diabetes.org/lakenona. If you are interested in learning more about the American Diabetes Association, please call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES or visit diabetes.org.

Photos Courtesy of main.diabetes.org