JDRF: Level 4, 80-84 Chandos Street, St Leonards NSW 2065 Tel 02 9966 0400 Fax 02 9966 0172 WWW www.jdrf.org.au
Event Alert
16 January 2010
Barossa Valley
Cyclists Tackle Type 1 Diabetes
Strap on the helmet and pull on the lycra – the Ride to Cure Diabetes is on TODAY.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) annual cycling event covers the best of
the picturesque Barossa Valley with three courses of 35, 80 or 160kms.
Since it was begun the Ride to Cure Diabetes has raised over $4 million in critical funds for
Australian research in type 1 diabetes. In 2010, JDRF expects to around $1 million to this total,
with more than 300 Riders expected to don helmets and lycra to support the cause.
Typically striking young people, type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that destroys the ability to
produce insulin, which is vital for life. An autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is thought to be
caused by a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors - but not junk food or obesity.
Former Adelaide Crows star Nathan Bassett is participating in the Ride to Cure Diabetes for the
fifth time. Nathan has type 1 diabetes himself, making this a very personal cause.
"Type 1 diabetes is increasing more and more in western society - we really need to find the
reasons why, and do something about it."
JDRF CEO Mike Wilson is thrilled to see that hundreds of Riders will participate. “Australia has
one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world and the rate of new cases in children in
this country is rising by 3% every year. This situation is urgent.”
Event Details - 2010 JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes
Date - Saturday 16 January 2010
Venue - Jacobs Creek Visitors Centre, Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat, SA
8.00am - 160km Start
9:00am - 80km Start
10.00am - 35km Start
Interview opportunities with Nathan Bassett and Mike Wilson in the lead-up to the event.
Photo and filming opportunities onsite on Saturday 16/01/10 with Nathan Bassett, Mike
Wilson, participants and families affected by type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes – the facts
There are 140,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes and with five new cases every day, Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. The
number of Australian children being diagnosed with this disease is increasing by 3% every year. Typically striking young people, type 1 diabetes
destroys the ability to produce insulin, which is vital for life. It requires an essential daily regime of multiple injections or continuous infusion of
insulin through a pump, as well as 6 – 8 finger-prick blood tests. Type 1 diabetes is associated with a significantly increased risk of serious
health complications. An autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a complex mixture of genetic and environmental
factors but not by an unhealthy diet or obesity. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the world’s largest not-for-profit supporter of
diabetes research and has invested over $1.6 billion since inception in 1970. The mission of JDRF is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its
complications through the support of research.
For more information please contact Lyndal Howison on 0411 110 717 or Gayle McNaught on
0401 625 905.
NEWS 
