May 18, 2020 marks just over six years, or roughly 2200 days, since my 10-year-old son, Beckett, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. 

In celebration of his 2200 days of strength, resiliency and good humor in the face of T1D’s daily burden, I will complete 22 separate 100-mile rides before year-end to raise essential funds for two remarkable T1D organizations:  The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. 

JDRF (www.jdrf.org) remains the world’s largest nonprofit supporter of T1D research.  Its scientists oversee a diverse portfolio of research, and have been the moving force behind many of the most significant advancements in diabetes care over the past six years, including the artificial pancreas and continuous glucose-monitoring technologies.

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute (www.sansum.org), located in Santa Barbara, California, has been on the cutting edge of diabetes research, clinical care and education since 1944.  The organization fosters future advancements through groundbreaking research, and is a trusted partner of JDRF-funded companies in conducting clinical trials of newly-developed diabetes treatments and monitoring devices.  

While I originally intended to complete the last of my 22 100-miles at a JDRF “Ride for the Cure” event, both JDRF and SDRI have been forced to cancel all in-person events in the interest of social distancing, resulting in a dire situation for the T1D research pipeline.  If the fundraising for these two organizations stops, so may the critical research they support.  So, the fundraising must go on, organized events or not!   

This year, for every dollar I raise in support of JDRF, a generous donor will make a matching contribution to SDRI, up to $50,000.  This gives donors an opportunity to double their impact by simultaneously supporting two organizations so critical to the ongoing effort to improve T1D treatment and, ultimately, cure the disease.   

So, I will ride my “22 100s” to advance the ongoing, critical research of JDRF and SDRI, which transforms the lives of children and others living with T1D.  Please consider joining me in supporting these extraordinary organizations.    Thank you!

Follow my progress: 

https://www.sansum.org/follow-flint/

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5za5p5eftfjm7fn/22%20100s%20Ride%20Log.xlsx?dl=0