INDIANAPOLIS- On June 21 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the American Diabetes Association held the annual Tour de Cure fund-raiser.
At the motor speedway, 350 bicyclists of all ages gathered for a day of riding toward a cure for diabetes, Misty Bolinger with the American Diabetes Association said.
The ride is not timed, and no prizes are handed out to those who participate; however, the rewards to those with diabetes are endless, according to the Tour de Cure Web site.
The Web site states that diabetes claims more than 180,000 lives each year, and still no cure has been found.
Sixteen million Americans suffer from diabetes, which can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and amputations, according to the site.
The Web site also states that treatment of diabetes costs taxpayers and businesses more than $98 billion a year.
According to the Web site these rides are held all over the United States in 70 different locations, from California to Rhode Island, with 20,000 cyclists joining in the ride for a cure.
Cyclists started their ride and ended it at the motor speedway, Bolinger said.
According to the Web site, cyclists had the option of riding the 75K, 50K, 25K or a track ride, which is 2.5 miles, once around. The track was open to cyclists from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
"It's pretty cool to ride on the track," Indianapolis resident Belinda Bowersox said.
Bowersox has been participating in Tour de Cure for three years.
Those who participated in the longer routes traveled on Indianapolis roads to Eagle Creek and some even traveled into Boone County.
Bowersox and her 10-year-old son collected $300 with the help of teachers, co-workers and neighbors.
Last year the event raised $75,000, and this year they were hoping to bring in $100,000, Bolinger said.
"More people preregistered this year than last year," Bolinger said. "And I think most of them showed up."
Teams of five could sign up, making the ride more enjoyable according to the Tour de Cure Web site.
The Eli Lilly team had 18 riders who raised $4,082 and DAS Decelerators collected $1,415.
The fund-raising minimum for the event was $100, and each person who reached the amount earned a Tour de Cure T-shirt, according to a Tour de Cure pamphlet.
Totals for this year's ride were not available at press time.
During the day Roly Poly offered cyclists lunch while the professional Careers Institute provided massages to sore cyclists.
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