Long-time Eureka resident Brad Albee began 2020 looking for a way to commemorate his 50th year of thriving with diabetes since his early childhood diagnosis with type 1 diabetes in 1970. It was then that he selected the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Wine Country Tour de Cure to celebrate this incredible accomplishment. Brad knew he wanted to celebrate his Silver ‘Diaversary’ (i.e., anniversary of being diagnosed with diabetes) on a bike, specifically on a recumbent bike, which is Brad’s preferred way of getting the outdoors exercise he seeks as a vital component of his regimen to stay healthy.
“Currently, there are 122 million Americans that have diabetes or prediabetes,” said Tom Hall, Director of Northern California for the ADA. “We are proud of Brad and honored that he’s chosen to celebrate such a momentous occasion raise awareness for diabetes through his participation in the Wine Country Tour de Cure. If you have spotted a man on a recumbent bicycle this past spring and summer on the roads of Eureka and surrounding communities once, twice or perhaps several times, you may well assume it was Brad Albee on his personal Tour de Cure challenge dedicated to making a difference for people like himself with diabetes.”
The ADA’s Wine Country Tour de Cure typically takes place in Sonoma County but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was converted into a Virtual Tour, where participants were encouraged to stay local and participate in their personal version of the ‘Tour de Cure’ as part of a greater online virtual community.
In celebration of his 50 years with diabetes, he set a goal to cycle 50 million inches in a personal challenge to celebrate relative good health, but not at the expense of continuous challenges, observance and management adjustments that reinforce there is no vacation from the disease for someone like Brad with type 1 diabetes.
Brad’s 50-million-inches challenge, which translates into a 789+-mile distance, is now within sight of completion. Brad has tracked his mileage ever since he registered for the event back in the spring when he formed his Humbents20 official team participating as one of more than 130 cycling, running or walking teams in northern California for a diabetes cure. He now has fewer than 50 miles left to complete his challenge goal before our Virtual Event on Sunday, October 18.
To date, Brad has raised more than $8,000 for the ADA, making him the #2 fundraiser in the Wine Country Tour. If you find his story compelling or if you have been touched by diabetes yourself, in your family or among your circle of friends, associates and colleagues, we welcome your support of his efforts at bitly.com/gotobradalbee.
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About the American Diabetes Association
Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
