I felt really bad about skipping last year's American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure, and even worse when I found out there weren't a lot of people on the club/gym's team.  My dad has diabetes and it's been a real struggle for him, so this is a cause really hits home for me.  With Donnie now Arlington I've been wondering who would captain our team or if we'd even have one.  I wanted next year to better than this year.  The more I asked others about their interest in stepping up to be the next captain the more I realized if I want it to happen so much I guess it should be me.

So this past weekend I registered a team for the 2011 Tour de Cure &  Tom Moslener has agreed to help co-captain with me. 

http://main.diabetes.org/goto/PanhandlePedalers

I registered the name 'Panhandle Pedalers presented by Gold's Gym Charles Town' (in the tradition of primary & presented by sponsors in pro cycling.)  Gold's Gym is a National Sponsor of the Tour de Cure.  The TdC team, and really our club, formed out of relationships from Gold's Gym & they are willing to help us to recruit riders & raise money.  So that's why I named the team the way I did. Maybe we can recruit some gym members to begin their cycling careers. This would be a great ride for new riders and those who are apprehensive to ride out on the road because a lot of the course is on the W & OD trail.

Next year's Tour de Cure on Sunday June 5th, 2011.  I hope many of you will join Tom & I, try to support the mission of the ADA: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.  Join our team, spread the word, help us with fundraisers or ideas.  Register now while the registration fee is only $15 & if you are one of the first 200 rider to register, you'll get a cool 'Rider in Training' T-Shirt.

I know that June is over 8 months away, but I'd like to get started early so we have time to recruit riders and have plenty of time to work towards the fund-raising minimum of $200. 2 or 3 years ago our team raised $12,000, I am getting started now, will you start with me?

Josh Hughes
Level: B/C
Treasurer
Panhandle
Pedalers Cycling Club

More information about the Tour de Cure:

The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Whether participants ride 10 miles or 100 miles*, they will travel a route supported from start to finish with rest stops, food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer them on!

The registration fee of $15 includes full route support at the Tour de Cure event including breakfast, lunch, snacks and hydration at our rest stops, SAG, medical support, bicycle mechanics, and more. All cyclists must meet the fund-raising minimum in addition to the registration fee to participate and will receive a commemorative Tour de Cure T-shirt on the day of the event. Raise more to qualify for exciting thank-you gifts of cycling apparel and accessories. Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable and do not count towards the fund-raising minimum of $200.