Vancouver businessman Kyle Balagno promised his daughter Taylor he would do everything in his power to help find a cure for her juvenile (type one) diabetes before her 18th birthday. He had 6 years.
"I must have been in a state of pure panic when I first uttered those words to my daughter after she had been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. If not panic then my love for her must have left me momentarily dazed. How could a guy like me really cure a disease, let alone do it within a 15-year period?
If that wasn't crazy enough, mentioning it to my friends in passing was my next biggest error. One casual comment about my promise and I am thrown so far out of my comfort zone that my head was now actually spinning. Others knew of my dreams for a cure, my wishes for a family life void of pumps and injections, and now I was going to be held accountable to a promise I knew I had stated but wasn't sure I had really made a commitment to."
Kyle Balagno
Founding Rider Team H2V
Father committed to finding a cure.
That commitment spawned Team H2V, a 5 man team who cycled across Canada at break neck speed in September 2007. They made the epic ride in just 8 days, set a Guinness World Record and raised $800,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and millions of media hits.
Where five men once set a standard now thousands will follow. Where five ordinary men proved the extraordinary was possible, new champions conquer their own personal goals; For themselves. For teams. For those with juvenile diabetes.
Cyclebetes is a festival of cycling events designed to bring a country, cyclist and the type 1 community together in celebration of what is possible.
Do something... Something BIG...
Cyclebetes is a festival of cycling events designed to bring people together. Youth, cyclists, those with Type 1 diabetes, their families and the community at large will unite to celebrate what is possible. Do something...something big...those were the words that fueled Team H2V.
"Being involved in events my whole life we knew we had something that could capture the imagination of the masses if we made it about their experience. The spin-a-thon and the relays will allow people to tell their story. It will allow them to deliver on their own promises. Promises that they may have made to themselves. Get fit, help a friend, do something different, become involved in a community and possibly be a part of finding a cure for one of the world's largest diseases. Cyclebetes is about young people being a part of the solution and leading. It is about standing up and removing the ordinary in favor of the extraordinary. Cyclebetes is about making a difference personally and in your community."
Willie Cromack
Team H2V Rider
Cyclebetes CEO/Founder
It's just the Beginning.
In 2008, six grade 11 students from Rockridge Secondary in West Vancouver, British Columbia, inspired by the amazing ride of H2V, created the very first Cyclebetes event and after weeks of planning, organizing, and 24 hours of spinning on stationary bicycles they had raised $80,000 for the JDRF.
Seeing the infinite possibilities for these events, the Cyclebetes student leadership program was developed.
In 2009, Cyclebetes Spin-a-Thons were held in nine schools involving thousands of participants, and hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for juvenile diabetes research. It is now time to take Cyclebetes Spin-a-Thons across Canada.
"Never stop going, you will reach your goal, just never give up. No matter what's in your way, if you keep on trying, you can reach it."
Francesca McDowell
Rockridge High School Grade 12 Student
Cyclebetes Organizing Team
Students - get ready - You are about to become Champions!
Cyclebetes Spin-a-Thons are an opportunity for high school students to get active in their communities and develop leadership capabilities by organizing and participating in school and community wide spin-a-thons. The emphasis is on fitness and leadership - community and relationship building.
Students experience a real world working environment and learn first hand how to create an extraordinary event. Most importantly they discover the immense satisfaction that comes from making a difference in the lives of others and effecting positive change. Today's students are tomorrow leaders and as such have the power to shape the future of an entire generation.
Leaders have a desire to make something happen, to change how things are, to create something that has never been done before. They chart their own course choosing not to follow a prescribed formula. For that reason Cyclebetes is providing you with a 5 and 10 step templates use them to help shape your school's Cyclebetes Spin-a-Thon. The uniqueness of your community and the strengths and talents of the team will further guide you. Since the first Cyclebetes Spin-a-Thon in 2008 many schools have hosted events, some were large, and others small - all were extraordinary!
Are you ready to L.E.A.D?
Leaders are collaborators. Since 2008 many schools have hosted Spin-a-thons, some were large, and others small - all were extraordinary! See what others have done watch the Cyclebetes videos, read the school blog posts, check out the photo albums and Cyclebetes school news!
Leaders are learners. Leaders take risks. This is an opportunity to try new things and learn by doing! Join our online forums and share your ideas with other student leaders. Be mentored by the Cyclebetes School Team.
Leaders believe in possibilities. Leaders know that obstacles will present, they are simply something to overcome. Leaders know mistakes move them one step closer to success. Leaders are courageous. Leaders think Big - to all ideas they say, "How can I make this bigger?" Leaders take risks - When people around them say "Not possible!" they say, "Watch me!" Leaders ask questions - they understand there is always more to know.
Leaders get extraordinary things done! Leaders shape our world! Welcome to the Cyclebetes Student Leadership Team.
If you have questions or comments email Cheryl Wilson-Stewart - Director of Cyclebetes School Programs cheryl@cyclebetes.com she would love to hear from You!
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