JDRF http://rickgaribay.net/category/75.aspx JDRF en-US Rick G. Garibay rickgaribay@hotmail.com Subtext Version 1.9.5.176 Thank You to All of My JDRF Ride to Cure Supporters http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/12/11/thank-you-to-all-of-my-jdrf-ride-to-cure.aspx <p>On November 19th, I joined nearly 10,000 cyclists in Tucson, AZ for the 33<sup>rd</sup> annual Tour de Tucson. Each cyclist participated in the distance of their choice, ranging from 27, 40, 55, 75 and 100 mile rides. The distance chosen by each cyclist is as varied as the reason they ride. Some ride for health, others to compete and many ride for a cause that is near to their hearts. </p> <p><b>I ride for Sarah. <a href="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/An-Open-Letter-to-All-of-My-JDRF-Ride-to_D6D8/WP_20161119_11_28_45_Rich_LI%20(2)_2.jpg"><img title="WP_20161119_11_28_45_Rich_LI (2)" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="WP_20161119_11_28_45_Rich_LI (2)" src="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/An-Open-Letter-to-All-of-My-JDRF-Ride-to_D6D8/WP_20161119_11_28_45_Rich_LI%20(2)_thumb.jpg" width="635" align="right" height="346" /></a></b></p> <p>So much has changed in just over two years since Sarah’s diagnosis on October 20th, 2014. Sarah is growing into a beautiful young girl, and is already halfway through 6<sup>th</sup> grade. Now 11, Sarah is just like all of her friends. She’s a great student (currently straight A’s) into music, art, and continues to compete in Traditional Irish Dance. In fact, the same weekend of El Tour, she was in San Francisco competing in Oireachtas (regionals). Sarah worked hard all year to qualify and finished 47 out of 80 girls from around the country in her solo dance and placed 12<sup>th</sup> in her Céilí (group) dance taking home a medal for her Bracken School of Irish Dance. </p> <p>Needless to say, Sarah has not let Type 1 Diabetes slow her down! Despite having to constantly monitor her blood glucose levels and administer insulin throughout the day, Sarah is an amazing girl who has shown me a strength and resilience that inspired me to join the JDRF cycling team in 2015 as a rider and this year as a coach. </p> <p>This spring I studied for and completed the requirements for obtaining my USA Cycling Level 3 coaching license and spent 20 weeks training with and supporting fellow team members who are fully committed to finding a cure for T1D. My team included athletes with T1D and friends and family of people with T1D. In addition to riding 20, 30, 40, 50+ miles almost every weekend, each team member also committed to a fundraising target and raising awareness at El Tour by donning our official JDRF team ride jerseys (the picture included is of the 40 mile team I led in Tucson right before the start). </p> <p>This has been an amazing role that has enabled me to apply my community evangelism talents with my passion for cycling to have a greater impact in the research community. The road to the event and ride day itself was an incredible experience and while Sarah could not be there with me physically, she was in my heart as I trained, coached and rode with the JDRF cycling team for every pedal stroke and mile until we crossed the finish line. Joined by my Mom and Ricky (now 9), it was a beautiful day of fellowship, camaraderie and celebration with each athlete achieving their personal distance targets beating 20 mph head winds and telling their T1D story along the way. </p> <p>Simply put, <b>this ride and this experience would not have been possible without your support.</b> Thanks to your <b>generous contributions </b>I was able to <b>exceed my fundraising goal by 184%, raising a total of $4,600 </b>towards $56,080 raised by my Desert Southwest Chapter for a <b>total of $675,002 raised across all participating chapters for Type 1 Diabetes research!</b></p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/An-Open-Letter-to-All-of-My-JDRF-Ride-to_D6D8/image_2.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 10px 15px 1px 13px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/An-Open-Letter-to-All-of-My-JDRF-Ride-to_D6D8/image_thumb.png" width="190" align="left" height="146" /></a>These numbers matter. I am more confident than ever that every dollar we’ve raised will take us one step closer to finding a cure for Sarah and I believe that JDRF is our best hope in getting there. Inspiring this confidence is JDRF’s influence, funding and impact is the recent breakthrough announced on September 28<sup>th</sup> with the FDA’s approval of the <b>first ever <a href="http://www.jdrf.org/research/artificial-pancreas/">artificial pancreas</a></b>. This closed loop system was funded largely by JDRF and is the firs<a href="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/An-Open-Letter-to-All-of-My-JDRF-Ride-to_D6D8/image_4.png"><img title="image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 10px 1px 1px 13px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/An-Open-Letter-to-All-of-My-JDRF-Ride-to_D6D8/image_thumb_1.png" width="190" align="right" height="113" /></a>t ever approved to automate the dosing of insulin to manage and regulate insulin levels by enabling a <b>continuous glucose monitor (CGM) </b>and an <strong>insulin pump </strong>(see images left and right respectively) to communicate with each other and make decisions based on current blood glucose levels. </p> <p>Sarah has been wearing a CGM (which reports her blood sugar level every 5 minutes via a sensor that is inserted just under her skin) and an insulin pump (which inserts a tiny needle into her skin that serves as a port for insulin delivery) every day of her life for the last year and a half. While this technology is <b>AMAZING</b>, the two devices do not (yet) talk to each other. She must vigilantly monitor her blood sugars at all times day and night and monitor her insulin levels to maintain a healthy blood glucose level. In addition, Sarah must “announce” her meals to her insulin pump so that it can calculate how much insulin to give her (X grams of carbs = X units of insulin). Getting this algorithm right several times a day is critical…Not enough insulin means unhealthy high blood glucose which can lead to long-term health complications, too much insulin (very easy to do!) can be deadly.</p> <p>This is a paradox and daily battle that every person with T1D must live with until there is a cure. Thanks to JDRF, which has invested more than $116 million in artificial pancreas research, we are now one step closer to a single device that takes care of the pancreatic functions we so easily take for granted. </p> </blockquote> <p>I believe that the approval of the artificial pancreas by the FDA will open the floodgates of innovation and it is my biggest hope that by the time Sarah starts college, an AP system that is virtually hands-off will be a reality. To make this happen, I will continue to partner with JDRF across their research portfolio and work tirelessly to raise awareness, advocacy and funding as we continue to fight for Sarah and the 1.25M people in America alone to one day <b>make life with type one feel more like life with type none.</b></p> <p>None of this would be possible without your generosity and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity. Thank you!</p> <p><font size="3" face="Segoe Script">Rick</font></p> <p>PS The training calendar for next year’s ride is starts in January. I am currently looking at either doing the Tour de Tucson in Arizona again or a new ride in Loveland, CO that was just announced a couple of weeks ago. <a href="http://twiter.com/rickggaribay">Follow me on twitter</a> for the latest news and thank you again for your support!</p><img src="http://rickgaribay.net/aggbug/382.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> Rick G. Garibay http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/12/11/thank-you-to-all-of-my-jdrf-ride-to-cure.aspx Sun, 11 Dec 2016 22:33:45 GMT http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/12/11/thank-you-to-all-of-my-jdrf-ride-to-cure.aspx#feedback http://rickgaribay.net/comments/commentRss/382.aspx http://rickgaribay.net/services/trackbacks/382.aspx JDRF &amp; Body Focus Fitness &amp; Performance Partner to Hammer Out Type 1 Diabetes http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/09/03/jdrf-amp-body-focus-fitness-amp-performance-partner-to-hammer.aspx <p>At Amazon, we focus on our customers and work backwards. One of the common tools we use to do this when coming up with a new feature or product idea is what we call a <em>forward looking press release</em>. Often abbreviated as “PR FAQ”, the forward looking press release sets the vision for the product or feature based on the customer benefits and business outcomes achieved following the launch. While it may seem a little strange or counterintuitive to write what happened <em>before it’s actually happened</em>, I’ve found it to be a great tool to think about the impact an idea can have, how customers will react (customer obsession) as well as how to define and measure its success (right a lot). The PR FAQ typically includes “audacious goals” (think big) an FAQ that includes a list of questions that provide additional clarity on strategy, execution and metrics (John Rossman has a good explanation of this mechanism in his book “The Amazon Way” which is a great and fairly accurate read: <a title="http://bit.ly/TheAmazonWayBook" href="http://bit.ly/TheAmazonWayBook">http://bit.ly/TheAmazonWayBook</a>). </p> <p>I recently partnered with Kevin Freeland, founder of <a href="http://www.functionalcrosstraining.com/" target="_blank">Body Focus Fitness &amp; Performance</a> and <a href="bit.ly/jdrf2016donate" target="_blank">JDRF</a> to plan a fundraiser in October and thought I would dog food this approach outside of work to try to sell the idea and get two different organizations aligned and committed to a shared goal. I’ll spare you the FAQs, but hope I can count on your support for this fun event on October 22nd at the Body Focus Fitness &amp; Performance studio in Tempe. <strong>You can learn more about the event and register here: </strong><a title="http://bit.ly/hammer-out-type-1" href="http://bit.ly/hammer-out-type-1"><strong>http://bit.ly/hammer-out-type-1</strong></a></p> <p>+++</p> <p>October 22, 2016 - Tempe AZ</p> <p>On Saturday, October 22nd, JDRF teamed up with local fitness icon Kevin Freeland of Body Focus Fitness &amp; Performance for a chance to take a swing at Type 1 Diabetes. </p> <p><a href="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/JDRF--Body-Focus-Fitness--Performance-Pa_C2BA/clip_image005_2.jpg"><img title="clip_image005" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" hspace="12" alt="clip_image005" src="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/JDRF--Body-Focus-Fitness--Performance-Pa_C2BA/clip_image005_thumb.jpg" width="180" align="right" height="178" /></a>Over 80 members of the local Phoenix community participated in a fun filled morning that provided each participant with an opportunity to swing a large sledgehammer against massive tractor tires to determine who could achieve the most swings within a 5-minute period. Eager participants began lining up outside of the Body Focus Fitness Studio in Tempe at 7:50 AM for the first of 8 time slots running from 8 AM through noon. Categories for wielding a sledgehammer of various sizes included men’s (16 lbs.), women’s (12 lbs.), youth (5 lbs.) and male/female tandem teams with prizes including fitness assessments (a $30 value) a full private workout ($60 value) an Amazon Fire tablet and two Amazon Fire TV sticks.</p> <p><i><strong>"This is a great opportunity to partner with a local fitness organization that has a history of not only developing some of the valley's strongest athletes but also has a track record of consistently giving back to the local Phoenix metro community"</strong></i> said Peter Ferry, JDRF Development Manager, Desert Southwest Chapter. Prior to this year’s event, Body Focus Fitness and Performance hosted “Hammer out Hunger” wherein the entry fee was a frozen turkey to benefit Andre House, a local ministry to the homeless and poor populations of the Phoenix area. <i><strong>“Building on the success of previous fundraising events, this is an opportunity to both provide awareness and raise funds for critical research that aims to well, hammer out Type 1 and I am honored to be a part of it”</strong></i> said Kevin Freeland, founder of the fitness studio in Tempe. The event met and exceeded expectations, raising nearly $1,900 for the annual JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes as part of the annual Tour de Tucson on November 19 which draws over 10,000 cyclists from around the country. This event is JDRF’s second largest fundraising effort behind the annual One Walk held in the spring. </p> <p><b>Did you know Type 1 Diabetes:</b></p> <p>1. Is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin – a hormone essential to turning food into energy.</p> <p>2. Affects 1.25M Americans living with T1D including about 200,000 youth (less than 20 years old) and over a million adults (20 years old and older)</p> <p>3. Strikes both children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet and lifestyle. </p> <p>4. Requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing and lifelong dependence on injected insulin.</p> <p>5. Is growing, with 40,000 people diagnosed each year in the U.S. alone and 5 million people in the U.S. are expected to have T1D by 2050, including nearly 600,000 youth.</p> <p>Founded in 2005, Body Focus Fitness &amp; Performance is an independent personal training facility specializing in fitness, performance and corrective exercise programs. Over the last 11 years, Kevin has trained athletes and aspiring athletes of all levels including elite triathletes, dancers and cyclists, football players training for the NFL combine, collegiate basketball, football, baseball and track athletes and entire high school football teams to busy working professionals trying to get a couple of highly effective work outs in a week or moms returning from maternity leave. As the creator of the Functional Cross Training (FxT) System, Kevin applies a combination of techniques for core conditioning with a focus on flexibility, mobility, strength and power. Using non-traditional tools you are unlikely to find in commercial gyms like sledgehammers, chains, ropes, Russian Kettlebells and sleds, Kevin takes an approach that is as unique as the athletes he’s working with. In addition, as a Medical Exercise Specialist, Kevin brings an educational approach to training. Per Rick Garibay, a long-time client and co-organizer of the event whose daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 almost two years ago to the day and has also trained under Kevin:<strong> <i>“Kevin takes a highly individualized approach to training and understands that there’s both an art and science to managing blood glucose levels during periods of intense physical activity, both in and out of the studio.”</i></strong> Rick goes on to say <i><strong>“You aren’t going to feel uncomfortable pulling out your test strips or treating a sudden low in his studio, whether you’re training one-on-one or in a group setting”.</strong></i></p> <p>Based on the success of this year’s event, the date has been set for the 2017 Hammer Out Type 1 Diabetes event which will be held on Saturday, October 21<sup>st</sup>, 2017. The goal of next year’s event is to increase participation and corresponding funding by 50% with a goal of raising $2,500 and becoming an official jersey sponsor for the 2017 Ride to Cure Diabetes.<b></b></p> <p>+++</p> <ul> <li><strong>Help me make this press release a reality and register here: <a href="http://bit.ly/hammer-out-type-1">http://bit.ly/hammer-out-type-1</a></strong></li> <li><strong>Can’t make the event, but want to support my ride &amp; fundraising goals. Please donate here: </strong><strong>bit.ly/jdrf2016donate</strong></li> <li><strong>Want to join our team of JDRF riders passionate about cycling and finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes? Join us: </strong><a><strong>bit.ly/iride4sarah </strong></a></li> </ul><img src="http://rickgaribay.net/aggbug/381.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> Rick G. Garibay http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/09/03/jdrf-amp-body-focus-fitness-amp-performance-partner-to-hammer.aspx Sat, 03 Sep 2016 18:45:41 GMT http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/09/03/jdrf-amp-body-focus-fitness-amp-performance-partner-to-hammer.aspx#feedback http://rickgaribay.net/comments/commentRss/381.aspx http://rickgaribay.net/services/trackbacks/381.aspx I Ride (and Coach) for Sarah http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/06/11/i-ride-and-coach-for-sarah.aspx <p> </p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016donate" target="_blank"><img title="image001" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="image001" src="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/I-Ride-and-Coach-for-Sarah_D35A/image001_3.jpg" width="167" height="61" /></a></p> <p>I joined JDRF AZ Riders last year for the Tour de Tucson where I rode 55 miles for my daughter Sarah. It was an amazing experience in which I got a chance to get to know this awesome community of cyclists focusing their energy and love for cycling on one thing: finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Together, the Desert Southwest Chapter, led by the <a href="http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersweb">JDRF AZ Riders team</a> raised over $57,000 towards $880K to help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes in 2015!<a href="https://www.usacycling.org/"><img style="float: right; margin: 5px 6px 6px 8px; display: inline" src="http://www.bikede.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/usac_logo.jpg" width="122" align="right" height="66" /></a></p> <p>In getting to know the coaches for the Southwest Chapter, PK Steffan and Scott Pahnke, we saw an opportunity to provide more ride options and locations as the JDRF Southwest chapter continues to grow. With over 60 JDRF AZ Riders across the Phoenix Metroplex and Tucson, nearly 33% are in the central/east valley, and with me living in Ahwatukee and working in Tempe, focusing on adding more ride options in central/east Phoenix made a lot of sense. Having obtained my USA Cycling Level I Coaching license, attending safety training and obtaining coaching insurance, I am thrilled to share that I am now an official JDRF cycling coach!</p> <p>I am grateful for the trust that JDRF, PK and Scott have placed in me in providing the opportunity to combine my passion for cycling with raising awareness and helping to find a cure for T1D. This is a privilege that I take very seriously and I am very much looking forward to supporting and growing our community of riders as we train and get stronger for the upcoming <a href="http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?fr_id=6199&amp;pg=personal&amp;px=10803579">Ride to Cure Type 1 Diabetes</a> at the <a href="http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Ride/JDRFNationalRide?pg=entry&amp;fr_id=6199">2016 Tour de Tucson</a> on November 20th. </p> <p><strong>I Ride for Sarah<a href="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/I-Ride-and-Coach-for-Sarah_D35A/JDRF%202_6.jpg"><img title="JDRF 2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="JDRF 2" src="http://rickgaribay.net/images/rickgaribay_net/Windows-Live-Writer/I-Ride-and-Coach-for-Sarah_D35A/JDRF%202_thumb_2.jpg" width="200" align="right" height="260" /></a></strong> <br />  <br />Sarah was diagnosed with Type 1 in October 20th, 2014. One September afternoon while my wife was taking Sarah to a routine dance practice (my daughter is a competitive traditional Irish dancer for the Bracken School of Irish Dance) they were T-boned by a big white van. The car was totaled but fortunately both where OK. A doctor follow up the next day revealed abnormal weight loss since her last birthday check up in May and a family vacation gave us the proximity to notice extreme thirst and frequent bathroom visits. The accident was a blessing in disguise as it gave us initial awareness there might be something off, without which the diagnosis could have been much more tragic. As a I discuss here, the road has not been easy but Sarah is an amazing girl who has shown me a strength and resilience that has inspired me to apply my technical and community talents coupled with my passion for cycling for the most important cause I have ever been engaged with in my life. </p> <p><strong>We need YOU!</strong></p> <p>While I have over a decade of experience working within the technical/development community, this is the greatest, most important cause I have ever been involved in. As with any community, we can only be successful if we continue to grow and with ever new rider that joins our team, we are raising awareness and moving one step closer to a world without finger pricks and needles. Whether you are a seasoned veteran cyclist or are brand new and want to join an amazing community of athletes that ride, train and have fun together and most importantly have each other’s back to ensure that every rider crosses the finish line in November, then the <a href="http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersweb">JDRF AZ Riders</a> team is the team for you!</p> <p>We publish a training calendar on the <a href="http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersweb">team website</a> (<a title="http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersweb" href="http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersweb">http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersweb</a>) as well as events on our <a href="http://bit.ly/jdrfazridersfb">Facebook page</a> (yes, I have finally joined Facebook specifically for this new role, so you KNOW my heart is in it!). There are several options for riding both in Phoenix and Tucson with the option to ride with the north/west or central/east valley groups. Our goal is to provide you with flexible locations that are most convenient for you and ensure that there is always a ride available every weekend as well as alternating between Saturday and Sunday rides.  <br />  <br />On that note, I will be hosting our first official JDRF central/east valley training ride tomorrow at 6:30 AM at the 40th Street &amp; Pecos Park &amp; Ride. This will be a relatively flat 22 mile ride (we can do less and accommodate all levels) throughout the beautiful Ahwatukee area including the Wild Horse Pass Resort which sees very little traffic at this hour (see route map: 22.5 miles Pecos and Casino Run). </p> <ul> <li><strong>What:</strong> JDRF AZ Riders Central/East Valley Training Ride </li> <li><strong>When:</strong> Sunday, June 12th, 2016 , wheels down at 6:30 AM </li> <li><strong>Where:</strong> 40th Street &amp; Pecos Park &amp; Ride </li> <li><strong>Route Map:</strong>  <a href="http://www.strava.com/routes/5015203">http://www.strava.com/routes/5015203</a> </li> <li><strong>Contact:</strong> Please let me know if you can make it or if you have any questions: rickgaribay AT hotmail DOT com (email) | <a href="http://twitter.com/rickggaribay">http://twitter.com/rickggaribay</a>  (twitter) <br /></li> </ul> <p>If you want to come out and ride a couple of times before signing up, that’s fine too! If you are already planning on riding in the Tour de Tucson and are looking for a team and an amazing opportunity to raise funds and awareness for a great cause, please <a href="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016register">join us</a>! Register here: <a title="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016register" href="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016register">http://bit.ly/jdrf2016register</a></p> <p>If you can’t ride, but would like to support our cause, please <a href="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016donate">consider sponsoring me</a> as I ride as a JDRF Coach this year. Last year I exceeded my goal by $200 raising $2,200 and would love to hit $2,500 this year. As of this writing, I have $2,400 more to go between now and November so every donation counts! Donate here: <a title="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016donate" href="http://bit.ly/jdrf2016donate">http://bit.ly/jdrf2016donate</a></p><img src="http://rickgaribay.net/aggbug/380.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> Rick G. Garibay http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/06/11/i-ride-and-coach-for-sarah.aspx Sat, 11 Jun 2016 22:51:31 GMT http://rickgaribay.net/archive/2016/06/11/i-ride-and-coach-for-sarah.aspx#feedback http://rickgaribay.net/comments/commentRss/380.aspx http://rickgaribay.net/services/trackbacks/380.aspx