The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is challenging riders to take part in the annual Tour de Cure, a cycling event to raise money for diabetes -- the nation's fifth-leading cause of death by disease. Tour de Cure is a ride, not a race, with 84 cities in 40 states participating this year. Tour de Cure raises funds to support ADA's mission -- to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is challenging riders to take part in the annual Tour de Cure, a cycling event to raise money for diabetes -- the nation's fifth-leading cause of death by disease. Tour de Cure is a ride, not a race, with 84 cities in 40 states participating this year. Tour de Cure raises funds to support ADA's mission -- to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Individuals and teams composed of co-workers, family and friends, who want to make a difference in the lives of the nearly 75 million people with or at-risk of diabetes, are welcomed to participate. Tour de Cure is designed for anyone from the novice cyclist to the experienced, with routes from 15-mile family rides to 100-mile century rides. The route will feature rest stops along the route with food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer riders on.

WHY WE RIDE
Tour de Cure is a ride for any individual or team who wants to enjoy a great day of cycling for a worthy cause--to find a cure for diabetes. Courtney Benefiel, an ADA advocate and frequent participant in Tour de Cure recently said "Everyone comes together for a common goal -- to cure diabetes." Her goal is to ride in every Tour throughout the country in the next several years. "Ultimately, I hope a cure will be found before I finish my last ride," she said.

With diabetes growing to near-epidemic proportions, close to 34,000 people have pledged to ride to find a cure. For more information about ADA's Tour de Cure, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-888-DIABETES (342-2383) or online at www.diabetes.org/tour.
National sponsors for Tour de Cure include Gold's Gym, Performance Bicycles, and Discovery Health Channel. National Teams include AT&T, Gold's Gym, Dignity Memorial, Valero, and Johnson & Johnson.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association is a community-based organization that provides services in every region of the country.