My name is Cricket Butler and my life, along with husband Glenn and sons Marshall (7) and Grayson (6) was changed forever 2 years ago with Grayson's diagnosis of Type1 diabetes.  Grayson's disease requires constant attention, yet with education, practice and support of family and friends, we have all learned to live as fully as we did prior to the diagnosis.

 

I have entered the Tour Divide Mountain Bike Race to raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF),www.JDRF.org.  The Tour Divide Mountain Bike race is a 2775 mile route starting in Banff, Canada and ending in Antelope Wells, New Mexico on the Mexican/American border.  I wish to demonstrate to all families, especially those affected by diabetes, that they must continue to dream, play and live life!

 

 

Two completely different things, yet both can be considered the most challenging obstacle an individual will ever face.  The idea of utilizing the world's longest mountain bike race to raise awareness and funds for JDRF is both epic and exciting.  Both have the power to make us reach deep within, making us stronger than we realize.  For a family with a Type 1 diabetic child, it is hard not to let this 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year disease take over and rule our lives.  The main objective of teamup4type1 is to show the world that even though diabetes has greatly impacted our lives, we still believe anything is possible.

 

Follow my preparation for the race and see how my family prepares for a month without "mommy".  Once the race begins, you can follow my progress via the Tour Divide Race webpage, www.tourdivide.org, and track my location using GoogleMaps and the Spot GPS Satellite Tracking devise that all racers are required to carry.  The race will be easy in comparison to leaving my family and trusting others to care for Grayson's health needs.  The race will be fulfilling one of my dreams and through it, I hope that Grayson will realize that he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

 

Please help us and everyone with Type 1 diabetes by donating to JDRF via our webpage at www.firstgiving.com/teamup4type1.  By raising funds and donating all the proceeds to JDRF, everyone who takes part in this event with have helped find a cure for diabetes!  Help find a cure and help us show others that there are no limits when living with Type 1 diabetes!