TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - September 15, 2014) - The stationary bicycles are tuned, greased and ready for corporate Canada to start cycling in support of JDRF at the 2014 JDRF Ride for Diabetes Research (JDRF Ride). On Friday, September 19, business sectors across Canada will trade in their suits for sweats as they go head-to-head in this unique stationary bike-a-thon. Possibly the wildest ride of the year, the event helps to raise awareness and funds towards finding a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.
"On behalf of JDRF, I would like to thank Canadians who continue to support the JDRF Ride each year," said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. "The commitment and passion from the Canadian business community in particular is fundamental to helping JDRF reach our national fundraising goal of $7.05 million this year."
Unlike any other fundraising event, the JDRF Ride pits bankers, lawyers, and business people against one another in a friendly competition to raise the most money, come up with the best costumes, and have a lot of fun. Teams of five ride for seven minutes each over the course of 40 minutes, with ride times hourly throughout the day.
"JDRF helps aggressively translate discoveries into treatments, drugs, and therapies that help people with T1D live healthier lives now, while continuing to towards finding a cure. Our goal is to keep people with T1D healthy and safe today until we are eventually able to cure this disease," said Prowten. "JDRF is excited to see corporate Canada get a little wild and set this friendly competition into high gear."
JDRF Ride for Diabetes Research
Taking place in 22 sites across Canada between September and November, over 22,000 business leaders and employees are expected to join this exciting team-building event, helping to achieve a national fundraising goal of $7.05 million towards diabetes research.
Participation in the JDRF Ride is easy and can fit into any schedule, with teams of five competing for a total of 40 minutes with each rider rotating on the bike in seven minute intervals.
Canadians can support the JDRF Ride for Diabetes Research by registering a company team, recruiting riders, fundraising and riding, or by donating to their favourite 2014 team at jdrf.ca/ride.
About T1D
Affecting more than 300,000 Canadians, T1D is a non-preventable autoimmune disease and the most severe form of diabetes.1 It strikes children, teens and adults at any age and causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications such as blindness, nerve damage, kidney and cardiovascular disease, amputation and even death.1
About JDRF Canada
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF's goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people's lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D. As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $530 million in scientific research in 17 countries. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.
1 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. About Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Fact Sheet. February 2013.
Contact Information:
For more information about the JDRF Ride for Diabetes Research or to arrange interviews and/or photo opportunities with diabetes researchers and/or JDRF spokespeople, please contact:
Samantha Goldsilver
647-668-8140
sgoldsilver@jdrf.ca