These are the Real Champions

Kids that live their lives to the fullest are always a marvel and an inspiration. 

Here are three of such a type of kid, and they’re all heroes in my books.  Each lives with over 3,000 needles a year, and yet they do well in school and in sports.

Jannessa, on the left, is 14 years old and is riding with us through Manitoba as the Cyclebetes National Team makes it through the province.

This pic was taken the other night at the 600km tune-up ride at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon.  All three kids got their new Accu-Chek Aviva Nano meters.  My son Brandon is at the front of the pack holding his up (he loves it).

And a pic of us on the trails as well…going to be a blast come September!

Great job, team!

600kms Later…

It was a long, tough night and we were joined by some great people to help us reach our goal.

The Brandon Sun did a great article for us this weekend and we got a little more attention from some of the radio stations.

The weather was brutal – strong winds, rain and thunder threatening – but we endured and are that much more prepared for our big ride in September!

Thanks James and Jannessa from team Manitoba for making the night a great success, and to Carla from CKLQ who did the live-on-location coverage for us!

Tonight Kicks it Off!

After nearly a year of training and planning, tonight our team members will meet at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon to ride a combined total of 600kms – the distance our team will travel across Manitoba!

Star FM will be on location and pumping out tunes as we ride around a 3km loop, racing to finish a total of 200 laps.

We are taking laps from anyone wanting to ‘donate’ to us to support research for Juvenile Diabetes and we will be accepting donations of hard-cold cash, too!

Come join us!

My New Ride

My local bike shop helped me out hyooooge and hooked me up with a great bike at a great price.

Here’s my new Norco CM2 (with a good 200kms on it already!  Woot!):

The seat’s a little different from what I’m used to and I sure need to get used to those clips…but MAN can I glide on this beast!

I’ve found out very quickly, though, that with great speed comes much responsibility…in the form of tube replacement.  These city streets aren’t friendly to my new ride’s tires!

This is Me.

My name is James Chambers.

My son was diagnosed at age 4 and for three years has been living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Cyclebetes is a series of cycling and fitness events to raise awareness of the disease and to fund a cure.

We are close.  My son will be cured.  This may be the year, and Cyclebetes may very well be the difference in making this happen.

I am uber-pumped to be doing this.  I just got my jersey and shorts from the team in Vancouver and it upped my excitement even more.

I can’t wait for this fall!

Ride hard.