Ride for a cure

Jenny Vandevelde is an active person. The San Diego State social work sophomore runs, plays soccer four times a week and enjoys playing basketball and volleyball. She goes on multi-mile bike rides with her dad, Kenneth, a few times a month in preparation for an annual ride in Death Valley, happening this weekend. In 2006, Vandevelde and her dad rode 58 miles through the desert heat, and this year, they think they can go further. She also checks her glucose levels eight times a day and inserts an IV tube under her abdominal skin every few days to deliver insulin into her system. Vandevelde has Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes. When she was diagnosed with the incurable disease three years ago during a physical examination before soccer practice, she had one major concern. "My first question was … can I go to practice and then the hospital?" Vandevelde said. She had to be rushed to the hospital for dangerously low blood sugar, but soon enough, Vandevelde was back to her active lifestyle. However, there were some big changes. "If you have Type 1, starting from day one, you have to either take shots or have an insulin pump," Vandevelde said. "There's no, 'Oh, maybe I'll take the pill, maybe I'll watch my diet.' Diet and exercise doesn't make a difference at all." Because it can't be prevented, Vandevelde is passionate about raising money to cure juvenile diabetes - but it is time consuming. "Ride to Cure Diabetes," the bike ride through Death Valley that Vandevelde and her dad are participating in for the second time this weekend, is a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. In order to participate, riders must raise $4,000. People under 18 - as Vandevelde was in 2006 - are also allowed to ride, but only if they ride with a parent. "Even though I'm an adult now, I still want my dad to go with me because it's more fun with the two of us," Vandevelde said. However, this means she must raise twice as much as single riders. When Vandevelde raised money for her first ride in May 2006, it wasn't easy, but it wasn't as difficult as it has been for her now. "Some of the stuff that I was able to get money from, and that I should have milked more when I was younger, were all (the sponsorships for kids)," Vandevelde said. "There was a Kohl's sponsorship and a Starbucks one and they all disappeared because I turned 18." As of last week, Vandevelde said she was still $200 short on her goal - just one week before the event, whereas last year she raised more than $11,000. "This is my life besides school and soccer," Vandevelde said. "It just takes up so much time and I don't know if I'll be able to do it again. I'd love to though. It's a super cool experience and it's a great way to raise money." No matter what happens, Vandevelde will always be involved with diabetes fundraising and education. She volunteers at Camp Wana Cura, a week-long day camp for children with diabetes during the summer, gets her friends to participate in walks, and after graduation, she plans on becoming a pediatric diabetes educator. Vandevelde does the ride for herself and the kids at camp who are too young to help out or don't have the opportunity. "Since I can do it, I should do it," Vandevelde said. Visit www.geocities.com/RunninOnInsulin for more information on Vandevelde and find out how to donate to JDRF.

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