Pura Cycling Studio is taking aim in the fight against diabetes by hosting a Cycle-a-Thon on Nov. 9.
The ride will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., with giveaways every hour.
Riders will participate in 45-minute heart-pumping rides to do their bit in the movement to stop diabetes, said Stephanie Farquhar, who co-owns the cycling studio along with Alfio Carroccetto.
The event, being held in conjunction with the cycling studio’s first anniversary, will feature chance drawings, goodie bags and T-shirts, and will offer information to help reduce the risk of diabetes.
Fresh Healthy Café At Wiregrass will cater the event, and chance tickets will be sold on prizes donated by Nutrition S’Mart of Wesley Chapel, Massage Envy Wesley Chapel, Tampa Bay MatchMakers, Polar USA, Fitniche Wiregrass and others.
Those taking part in the fundraiser will donate $25 for each session on the stationery bicycles at the studio. Some of the studio’s regulars have already signed up to do two sessions, Farquhar said.
All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the American Diabetes Association.
The business was motivated to do the fundraiser because the diabetes organization reached out, asking for help and because the owners know people who have the disease. Farquhar said she was surprised to learn that the disease affects so many people and that it has such far-reaching health and medical cost implications.
Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and another 79 million are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050 unless steps are taken to stop the disease, the organization said.
Two out of three people who have diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, according to the diabetes association. It is also the leading cause of new blindness among adults, and people who have the disease are 10 times more likely to undergo an amputation than those without it.
It’s also a very expensive health problem, with the average medical expenditure for people with diabetes being 2.3 times higher than without it, the association reports.
Anyone wishing to participate in the fundraiser can reserve a spot, call (813) 501-2124.
