Ali Bronsdon / Leader Staff

On Oct. 18, Ronan resident John Azzopardi will ride his bike 105 miles across California's Death Valley.

He built his first bike at age 8, with spare parts found in the dump. Since then, Azzopardi has logged mile-after-mile for the benefit of his own health and the enjoyment that comes with knowing he is doing something good for his body. He has completed marathons and Ironman triathlons — testing his limits again and again. This time around, however, Azzopardi will be riding for someone else.

In honor of Polson fifth-grader Heather Bruton, Azzopardi will join hundreds of riders from across the country in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Ride to Cure Diabetes. Azzopardi will pedal with the goal of raising awareness and money — $3.2 million in total — for a cure to what JDRF calls "a debilitating disease" that as many as 3 million Americans must deal with every day.

Heather was only diagnosed two years ago when her blood sugar had gotten so high that she suffered a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and had to be transported to Missoula and held in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for three days. Now, no food can pass her lips without checking her blood sugar. She has to stick herself with monitors and deal with a pump that administers insulin during the day. When her levels are low, she must eat, or she could go into a coma.

"I am so impressed with Heather," her mom, Stephanie Bruton, said. "The Bible says God will not hand us anything more than we can handle and I truly believe that. Heather is quite mature for her age and she handles it well. She doesn't let it stop her from doing her normal thing. She is my hero."

For someone who signed up to race in the desert, it's funny to hear that Azzopardi really does not like the heat.

"I melt a little bit," he said. "But, I like to challenge myself and that's why I picked Death Valley. Why not go crazy and pick the one that challenges you the most or has the potential to challenge you the most?"

Riding for Heather, he said, "puts a face with your efforts." This route has traditionally dealt out not only suffocating heat, but also strong wind.

"Riding in a 40-mile-an-hour wind, you can have that picture in your mind to remember why you're doing this," he said.

Heather and her mom said they like to participate in the JDRF walk in Missoula each year, but this year, due to another DKA emergency, Heather could not take part. Still, like most kids her age, she loves to play soccer, jump on the trampoline and ride her bike. Of Azzopardi's efforts to ride in her honor, Heather said, "It's pretty amazing."

"There's a lot of work and time that gets put into these kind of deals, but I think they are well worth it," Azzopardi said of the many charity rides around the world. "It's a great fund raiser and a great way for ordinary people to help out. Maybe Death Valley isn't the most agreeable ride for some people, but they do other rides in other places. Anybody can go out there and ride for a good cause."

Azzopardi is about half way to his goal of $4,000, including a registration fee, which counts toward each rider's fundraising requirement. If that goal is reached, JDRF will cover the other expenses, including each participant's flight and bike transportation to-and-from the event, weekend accommodations, and meals. They even provide maintenance, support, and appropriate snacks and drinks during the ride.

As the leading charitable funder and advocate of type-one (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide, JDRF provided over $137 million to diabetes research in 2007 and is responsible for more than $900 million in direct funding since it was founded in 1970 according to the organization's website.

"The money part is a huge challenge and is proving more difficult over time," Azzopardi said. "Especially in these economic times, people aren't as willing to part with their money, which is understandable. But, I am confident I will be able to raise it."

To help Azzopardi reach his fundraising goal, donations in Heather's behalf can be mailed to 40721 Carbine Road, Ronan, MT 59864. She has to stick herself with monitors and deal with a pump that administers insulin during the day. When her levels are low, she must eat, or she could go into a coma.

"I am so impressed with Heather," her mom, Stephanie Bruton, said. "The Bible says God will not hand us anything more than we can handle and I truly believe that. Heather is quite mature for her age and she handles it well. She doesn't let it stop her from doing her normal thing. She is my hero."

For someone who signed up to race in the desert, it's funny to hear that Azzopardi really does not like the heat.

"I melt a little bit," he said. "But, I like to challenge myself and that's why I picked Death Valley. Why not go crazy and pick the one that challenges you the most or has the potential to challenge you the most?"

Riding for Heather, he said, "puts a face with your efforts." This route has traditionally dealt out not only suffocating heat, but also strong wind.

"Riding in a 40 mph wind, you can have that picture in your mind to remember why you're doing this," he said.

Heather and her mom said they like to participate in the JDRF walk in Missoula each year, but this year, due to another DKA emergency, Heather could not take part. Still, like most kids her age, she loves to play soccer, jump on the trampoline and ride her bike. Of Azzopardi's efforts to ride in her honor, Heather said, "It's pretty amazing."

"There's a lot of work and time that gets put into these kind of deals, but I think they are well worth it," Azzopardi said of the many charity rides around the world. "It's a great fund raiser and a great way for ordinary people to help out. Maybe Death Valley isn't the most agreeable ride for some people, but they do other rides in other places. Anybody can go out there and ride for a good cause."

Azzopardi is about half way to his goal of $4,000, including a registration fee, which counts toward each rider's fundraising requirement. If that goal is reached, JDRF will cover the other expenses, including each participant's flight and bike transportation to-and-from the event, weekend accommodations, and meals. They even provide maintenance, support, and appropriate snacks and drinks during the ride.

As the leading charitable funder and advocate of type-one (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide, JDRF provided over $137 million to diabetes research in 2007 and is responsible for more than $900 million in direct funding since it was founded in 1970 according to the organization's website.

"The money part is a huge challenge and is proving more difficult over time," Azzopardi said. "Especially in these economic times, people aren't as willing to part with their money, which is understandable. But, I am confident I will be able to raise it."