Steve Clark is riding on October 16, 2010 at Death Valley.

"There is glucose in her urine." Six words, at my daughter's normal 4 year appointment, that changed my life, and especially her life, forever. That is the day that Ellie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. My wife, who also has the disease, was even more devastated - knowing first hand some of the obstacles Ellie would now face.

Managing diabetes means 5-10 finger pricks a day. It means giving your body insulin to live either by injecting yourself with shots or attaching an insulin pump to your body. It means always counting carbs in everything you eat and figuring the appropriate insulin dosage. It means fighting high blood sugars. It means fighting low blood sugars. It means regular visits to the endocrinologist. It means annual meetings with her school teachers explaining the disease again. It means facing health complications. It means trying to answer the question - "why do some people get diabetes and some don't". It means having your 9 year old daughter cry when she thinks it is her fault that her dad forgot to remind her to give insulin after dinner. It means seeing your baby girl worry about a whole slew of things that she just should not need to worry about.

This ride experience embodies the spirit of JDRF. It represents in a very real way the daily struggle, challenge and victory of living with Type 1 Diabetes. Having hundreds of people commit to this high fund-raising minimum and ride in the desert is surreal and plainly - well, unexplainable.

Five years ago, neither my wife or I even owned a bike. Now this will be my fifth year riding in this event. While I have found that I really like cycling, I do this to raise money and awareness. Last year, I pedaled 105 miles up brutal climbs in temperatures that reached 107 degrees in one day! 10 hours on a bike, you become a little to intimate with your seat. :)

The best part though was that I was able to cross that finish line with my wife - 105 miles, 107 degrees, one day, and she did it while having to monitor her blood sugar levels the whole time.

My wife and daughter are the inspiration behind me taking part in the Ride to Cure Diabetes for the fifth year.

No donation is too small - I'll keep pedaling for every single dollar until that cure is found.

See me playing "trophy husband" in the promotional ride video

Help JDRF—and me—find a cure for
diabetes:
     Donate Now
     E-mail This Page to a Friend





If this page contains inappropriate material,
click here to report the issue to JDRF.