Local Red Rider, Charlie Goodspeed, is Getting His Bike Ready to Be Part of the Stop Diabetes® Movement

Londonderry, New Hampshire – [March 6, 2014] – Londonderry resident, Charlie Goodspeed, will be taking part in The American Diabetes Association’s movement to Stop Diabetes® by riding in the annual Tour de Cure®. This cycling event is happening on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at the Topsfield Fairgrounds in Topsfield, MA to help raise funds to change the future of diabetes and help stop this devastating disease.

As a type 1 diabetic, Charlie rides in the Tour de Cure as a Red Rider. Red Riders are people with diabetes who are raising awareness of diabetes and raising money to stop diabetes by participating in American Diabetes Association-sponsored cycling events across the country. Representing people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, Red Riders know what it means to have diabetes and they want others to understand that diabetes is a serious disease that can have deadly consequences.

Charlie’s involvement began when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 28. His grandfather had been diagnosed at the same age, but at the time, doctors assumed it was type 2. “Upon hearing I was a diabetic, I immediately went to the Joslin Diabetes center in Boston for an intense training program called the ‘Just Do It’ course,” Charlie recalls. “It helped me understand the disease, and how to live with it.”

To anyone who was recently diagnosed, Charlie highly recommends seeking out an endocrinologist to help you understand the big picture. “You can then learn that living with diabetes isn’t that bad, just something you have to deal with day to day. Get in shape, think before you eat, and live life,” he explains.

Charlie was asked to ride on the Sugar Rush team in last year’s Tour de Cure, and he’s never looked back. “I was blown away by the whole experience. Right from the start, we were treated like royalty. From the police officers stopping traffic, to the folks hosting the event, it was a wonderful experience,” Charlie remembers. “Everyone on the ride was super friendly, making it feel like I was riding with several hundred of my closest friends.”

Tour de Cure is designed for anyone from the occasional to the experienced cyclist with routes from the 15-mile family rides to 100-mile Gran Fondo century rides. The routes will feature rest stops with food to fuel the journey and volunteers to cheer riders on.

The Tour de Cure raises funds for the 26 million Americans living with diabetes through registration fees and pledges collected by the cyclists. To register, cyclists or volunteers can call the American Diabetes Association at 617-482-4580 ext. 3487 or visit us at www.diabetes.org/nsmedia.

The National sponsors of the Tour de Cure are Lilly Diabetes, Primal Wear, Go Macro, and Gold’s Gym. National Teams include Johnson & Johnson, WalMart, Lockheed Martin, Gold’s Gym, Cisco Systems, Dignity Memorial, Bio Rad, and more; Locally by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Summit Partners, Boston Scientific Corporation, and North Shore Magazine; and Regionally by Subaru of New England and Novo Nordisk.  Each Tour de Cure features a variety of routes.  The North Shore Tour de Cure routes include:

100 Mile Gran Fondo- This is an epic route including two timed segments for fantastic prizes, challenging climbs and a variety of terrain in Massachusetts and New Hampshire even reaching coastal views.

62 Mile Route- This challenging route travels through the beautiful North Shore and includes scenic countryside and local communities.

31 Mile Route- Riding this route, you will see picturesque North Shore landscapes with beautiful views and roads.

15 Mile Route- Great for avid and newer cyclists alike, this route will travel through charming North Shore countryside and accessible to all ages and fitness levels.

 “The Tour is a great way to enjoy a wonderful day of bicycle riding while making you feel like you are not alone out there, should you be a diabetic,” Charlie states. “I highly recommend it to anyone.”

To join Charlie in this year’s Tour de Cure, please visit www.diabetes.org/nsmedia to register. To visit Charlie’s personal page, please visit http://main.diabetes.org/goto/CGoodspeed.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

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For more information please visit www.diabetes.org/nsmedia.

To schedule an interview with Charlie Goodspeed or other North Shore Tour de Cure riders, please contact Jackie at 617-482-4580 or by email at jbialer@diabetes.org.