Riding a bike is good for your health.
It can be good for other people’s health, as well.
For the seventh year, UNMC will have a team for the Tour de Cure, a national fundraising event held to benefit the American Diabetes Foundation.
Nicole Gallardo is organizing the UNMC team, although she will not be able to ride in the June 1 event this year. Nebraska’s Tour de Cure will kick off at the Sarpy County Fairground in Springfield, where bicyclists can choose between three routes of 50 miles, 20 miles and 10 miles.
“I enjoyed participating in the Owl Ride and representing UNMC in the Corporate Cycling Challenge last year, and I also rode in the Bike for Sight last Saturday,” Gallardo said.
“Representing UNMC in the Tour de Cure is especially significant for me, because I am a Type 1 diabetic. The Tour de Cure places a lot of emphasis on recognizing and celebrating riders with diabetes, who they call Red Riders, and this really sets this event apart from others.”
Sandy Behrendsen will be riding in the event for the fourth time.
“I really enjoy supporting a cause like the American Diabetes Foundation,” she said. “There is no better way to do it than on a bike surrounded by other bike enthusiasts.”
Behrendsen lauded the Tour de Cure as a well-organized event that draws a lot of local support from the Nebraska communities it passes through.
“And the after party is a lot of fun,” she said.
“Team UNMC has always been a small number of people, so it would be great to grow this team and really represent our university and hospital,” Behrendsen said.
For more information, and to join or support the team, go to the team’s home page.