Southampton, NY - September 12, 2016 - Many cycling enthusiasts are putting their favorite pastime to good use by joining the Ride for the DRI, a dedicated team of bike riders participating in the Massapequa Park Bicycle Club Tour of the Hamptons on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Funds raised by participants will support the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and its mission to find a biological cure for diabetes.
The scenic ride, taking place from 7:30 am to 5 pm, will begin at Southampton High School, 141 Narrow Lane, in Southampton, NY. Participants will travel through mostly flat terrain and rolling hills on the scenic south fork of Long Island, featuring farmlands, beaches, mansions and historic towns such as East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk before returning to Southampton. The Tour has routes of 25, 50, 70, 100 miles and two 25-mile guided rides.
Riders can register online now for $40 and then create a personal fundraising page at RidefortheDRI.org to generate support from family, friends and colleagues. All riders who raise $200 or more will receive a free DRI bike jersey!
The idea of a ride within a ride was hatched from three avid cyclists – Bruce Siegel, Keith Adwar and David Newman – who are passionately committed to helping the DRI find a cure for diabetes.
“It is my hope that this ride increases awareness of the DRI to grow its base of supporters, and the funds raised by the ride help pay for the cure,” said Siegel, who serves as DRI Foundation Northeast Region Board Co-chairman. “Because the cost and lead time to create our own ride was difficult to overcome our first year, I searched for a ride that we could piggyback on to get a ride off the ground at almost no cost to the DRI – enabling more dollars to go to fund research. The Tour of the Hamptons fit the bill perfectly.”
Newman and Adwar, who have been riding together and raising funds for multiple causes, have now dedicated their efforts to the DRI.
“My hope is to bring awareness to the cause and the fact that DRI has made great strides in finding a cure for diabetes. Continually funding this organization is paramount,” Newman said. “The team building will not only raise awareness and money but will also provide a great, fun activity for all to enjoy.”
Adwar added, “The ride is important to me because I’ve found cycling to be a tremendous help in dealing with my own diabetes, besides being a lot of fun. Our hope is to raise awareness for the DRI and how much its research is making a difference in finding a cure.”
The deadline to pre-register is 3 pm on Friday, September 16. Tour day registration begins at 7 am and is $50, payable in cash or check. No credit or debit cards will be accepted. There is no mail-in registration.
Rest stops will include plenty of food and refreshments, and hero sandwiches will be served at the end of the ride. Start times are: 100-mile route 7:30 am, 50 and 70-mile routes 8 am, 25-mile route 9 am, and the 25-mile guided rides at 9 am and 10:30 am. The tour ends at 5 pm.
Helmets are required for all regardless of age and riders must follow the rules of the road including riding single file. For more information, go to here or call 516-822-1700.
About the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to develop a biological cure by restoring natural insulin production and normalizing blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that transplanted islet cells allow patients to live without the need for insulin therapy. Some study participants have maintained insulin independence for more than 10 years. The DRI is now building upon these promising outcomes by developing a DRI BioHub, a bioengineered “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas. While various BioHub platforms are being tested in preclinical and clinical studies, the DRI is also developing strategies to eliminate the need for anti-rejection drugs and reset the immune system to block autoimmunity. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org, tweet @Diabetes_DRI or call 800-321-3437.