LOCAL RESIDENT, ERNIE JACKSON, RIDING TO STOP DIABETES AT THE ANNUAL TOUR DE CURE

Danvers resident, Ernie Jackson, 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.

Ernie will be riding in the Tour de Cure along with his daughter, Sarah. Ernie’s father, Sarah’s grandfather, had diabetes, and this will be the sixth Tour de Cure that they will be riding in his honor!

When asked why he participates in the Tour de Cure, Ernie answered that he “wanted to introduce Sarah to the concept of working for good causes.” Sarah was only 3 years old when she rode in his first Tour de Cure. “The Tour de Cure is really well-run,” Ernie continued.

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.

Ernie’s favorite part of the Tour de Cure is that it is “a well-run ride, fun ride, that the whole family can participate in, that raises money for a good cause,” he stated.

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

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 Ernie Jackson or other North Shore Tour de Cure riders, please contact Jackie at 617-482-4580 or by email at jbialer@diabetes.org.