Napa, Surrounding Communities Invited To Help Fight Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association Northern California invites riders, runners and walkers of all levels to join the celebration and be part of the movement to fight diabetes by taking part in the Napa Valley Tour de Cure on May 6 at the Veterans Home of California.

More than 1,500 participants and 400 volunteers are expected at the bike, walk and run event to help raise funds to support the ADA’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Tour de Cure Napa Valley has been the ADA’s number one fundraiser in the nation for 15 consecutive years with continuous support from large corporations such as Bio-Rad Laboratories, NRG and SAP.

In addition to the traditional cycling ride, this year’s Tour de Cure event also features a 5k run as well as a 5k walk. The event provides a unique opportunity for businesses, clubs, friends and families to come together with the vision of a life free of diabetes and all of its burdens.

Every 21 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes. In addition, nearly half of all American adults have either diabetes or prediabetes, which puts them at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes are at significant risk for serious complications including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and lower-limb amputations. As the ADA’s premier fundraising event and one of the nation’s largest series of diabetes fundraising events, Tour de Cure brings together volunteers and participants invested in stemming the diabetes epidemic and funding research to find a cure.

“Because of the support of The Tour de Cure community I am no longer ashamed of living with diabetes. I love that I can participate in an event that helps me with my disease both physically through exercise and mentally by building a community with other people affected by diabetes,” said Kim Carter Martinez, Napa Tour de Cure participant and Committee Chair. “Tour de Cure is a family and I look forward to this event every year,” she said.

Funds raised through the Tour de Cure allow the ADA to continue that community support year-round. The Association offers Camp PowerUp, prevention camps for youth who have been identified to be at risk of developing diabetes, or have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. ADA-funded researchers are at work at various institutions throughout the region working to find a cure and better methods of treating diabetes. During the 2017 wildfires in Napa and Sonoma Counties, the American Diabetes Association coordinated with partners to help provide diabetes supplies to members of the community living with diabetes who suffered the loss of their home.

To register or donate to the Napa Valley Tour de Cure, visit diabetes.org/napavalleytourdecure.

On Sunday, August 5, the ADA will host the Silicon Valley Tour de Cure in Palo Alto, CA. Learn more at diabetes.org/siliconvalleytourdecure.

Tour de Cure is sponsored nationally by Eli Lilly and Company and Primal Wear Inc.; Napa Valley Tour de Cure is sponsored locally by Bio-Rad Laboratories, SAP, NRG, Syar Foundation, Jelly Belly, Valero Benicia Refinery, Charles Schwab, Fremont Bank, UnitedHealthcare, Canopy Health, Slalom, Sports Basement, Tosoh Bioscience, Inc. and Performance Bicycle.

About the American Diabetes Association

Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (Association) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the Association supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).