Lake Hiawatha's Brian Donlin Supports Juvenile Diabetes Research

- This post written by Brian Donlin -

For the third year in a row now, Lake Hiawatha resident Brian Donlin is once again helping to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) through a fundraising effort for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Every year, hundreds of cyclists gather in different cities to ride in support of JDRF Research. Some are kids and adults with T1D, and some are the friends and family that support them. While the JDRF has reinstated the national events that were previously cancelled due to the pandemic, Brian is keeping his commitment close to home. He is planning a 100-mile ride (century ride) to coincide with the JDRF MyRide events later this summer.

Brian has known many people in his life that live with T1D, but it really hit home when the diagnosis came to his nephew Zach. Zach was diagnosed with T1D as he entered Kindergarten. It was initially extremely hard on him and his family, but through support and the research done through the JDRF, his life has been made just a little bit easier. Now 12 years old, he has become accustomed to a life many of us would never understand. But leveraging current and new technologies along with advances in medicine, Zach just may be one of the first few to see T1D disappear altogether.

You can follow Brian’s progress on his personal site at https://briansden.wordpress.com/ and through his YouTube channel, The Backyard Cyclist. You can donate directly through his Facebook fundraiser or through his JDRF page at http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/brian_donlin.

The JDRF has been leading the fight against Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) by funding research, advocating for policies that accelerate access to new therapies, and providing a support network for millions of people around the world impacted by T1D. Every dollar donated goes directly to the JDRF to help everyone with T1D live healthier and longer, until this disease no longer exists.

Every mile pedaled is a mile closer to a cure. We can’t make it to the finish line without you!