March 25, 2018 – The Tour de Cure once again arrived. Each year brings new participants and supporters!
The ADA Tour de Cure had a new opportunity this year. Not only were there a variety of choices in the ride, there was also a 5K run/walk.
The venue setup takes place way in advance. The site was spectacular thanks to the many volunteers who took time to map out and mark the different routes; set up tents, tables, and chairs; coordinate sponsors; take shifts at SAG and water stations. Community support also factors in to make for a successful event day!
Sunday started off early for many. For the TeamOne riders, that was as early as 5:00 a.m. Believe it or not, 5:00 a.m. does exist on a Sunday morning.
Team leads started with tent signage for the team. They made sure everyone was checked in for registration. Then the task of picking up the rented bikes for participants from out-of-town was completed. There was tent setup and making sure everyone was checked in for registration.
Breakfast was ready and waiting. Coffee, sausage & egg sandwiches, egg white and spinach sandwiches, bacon and egg sandwiches were only a few of the tasty choices. Oranges, bananas, bagels, yogurt – a great way to greet the day under any circumstances, but especially welcome in preparing for the long rides today.
The forecast was sunny and warm, in the 70’s with winds up to 10 mph. Spring brings wind and sun. This day would not disappoint with its perfect weather.
The Ride
TeamOne had three groups of riders today participating in 10, 25 and 52-mile courses. 7:30 am was the start time for the 52-mile riders. A large group of TeamOne members made up the 52-mile adventurers.
Lined up for a photo opp at the starting line, the cyclists displayed pride, readiness, and excitement. Every year has a different synergy depending on the participants. One thing that does not change, though, is the bond shared by a group ready to fight the wind and successfully master the ride!
The riders soon picked up to their targeted pace of 17-20 mph. Lake Nona offers scenic views. Soon enough the roads gave way to fields of cows. Horses dotted the landscape at times.
Strategy. Every group has a strategy to perform their best. Drafting and rotating lead riders seemed like a good plan.
Skipping the first SAG station presented no problem. The riders continued to the second SAG station. Friendly faces cheered the team as they approached. Smiles everywhere! Food: oranges, bananas, PB&J, trail mix! What a welcoming sight to hungry riders. Water and Gatorade to quench the thirst.
More miles. More cows. More road. Next SAG stop: warm smiles and precious refreshments. Now to finish this 52 miles.
8:30 am was the 25-miles ride start time. TeamOne cyclists made their way to the starting line. Excited and ready! The 25-mile course took the group through tree-lined neighborhoods, scenic routes, and provided for an incredible experience.
The team also has a Red Rider – Jimmy Vasil. Jimmy’s hope is that “Someday down the road we will just get together for a ride, not for the fight against diabetes”.
The Run
Two experienced TeamOne riders committed to the 5K run this year. They started at a reasonable time compared to the 50-mile riders. A new experience, the course displayed the beautiful Lake Nona area.
The Champions
The hard work and excellent leadership helped the team reach the goal of $23,035 at ride time. TeamOne is proud to once again have all the team members achieve Champion status. As a “Team of Champions“, this group of riders and runners celebrated at the special Champions Tent. Chroma sponsored the special lunch reserved for Champions. Beautiful displays of salad, roasted vegetables, bread, spaghetti and meatballs, golden mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes lined tables.
The Activities
The ADA Tour de Cure treated participants to several special activities. Massages for weary legs offered respite from the grueling effort put forth.
Tijuana Flats sponsored lunch for participants. Tacos, chips, and salsa invited participants with the delicious aroma wafting through the air. ABC Wine and the Beer Garden gave a little taste of escape.
Celebration. Camaraderie. Friendship. These are just icing on the cake for TeamOne. The real Knowing they are helping to fight for a cure gives the best feeling to the team members.
How We Helped
| TeamOne | ADA Totals |
|---|---|
| Achieved to Date: $23,035 Number of Champions: 21  Corporate Teams: #10 Overall Teams: #11 Number of Riders: 21 Average per team member: $1,152 |
Achieved to Date: $902,617 Number of Champions: 188 Number of Corporate Teams: 70 Number of all Teams: 107 Number of Riders: 1,500 Average per team member: $597 |
Other Information:
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Our Part in the Tour de Cure:
* Data and figures derived from the ADA Lake Nona web site. |
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Who is TeamOne
Read the summaries below about the event in TeamOne members’ own words by selecting their name link below (more to follow). Honorable mention goes out to Ron Oakley and new ITO team member Amanda Barnes for arriving early in the morning and being at the finish line cheering the entire team on as we crossed.
| Affiliation | 5K Run/Walk | 25 Miles | 50 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAIC | Bill Truett |
John Legarreta Kelley Boutilier Kevin Belkofer Susie Schmitt |
Bob Fecteau Diana Riley Lee England 4 Ruben Herrera Shawn DeLuca Shauna Brookshier Tom Wofford Zrain Olivencia 3 |
| Family / Friends | Kenesha Osbourne |
Gail Tromp Jimmy Vasil  Seresaa Setzer |
Catherine Aldea 1, 3 Dawn Atanasio Jodel Jerome Jonathan Nunes |
| Notes | 1 First time ADA event riders 2 Very close to joining the other Champions3 Also will ride 63 miles in St. Petersburg for ADA Tampa 4 Virtual Rider (a team member who raised funds but couldn’t ride) Red Rider: A person who rides with diabetes. Tour de Cure Jersey Champions for Diabetes |
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“Fun”raising Activities Winners
The prize purchases were made possible solely with team member’s support. You can view Drawing Winner News page for all the winners or the individual by selecting a link below.
Event Day Statistics
This is the course charted by one of the TeamOne members who participated in the 52-mile route.
Photos
Special thanks to Mo, our Team Photographer. Her warm spirit and talent gave the team a portfolio of pictures to share!
Thank you,
TeamOne
Thank you to all the members and donors for being an inspirational group of people and all your help! Without all of you, this day wouldn’t have been a hit!!!
I’m humbled by my fellow team members who not only ride and raise donations but also help each other make Champion. I am honored to call all of you my team members and friends. That makes it a three-peat on embodying the moniker “Team of Champions“!!! 🙂