Defeating Diabetes, one ride at a time

RONAN — You think riding 100 miles on a bike is tough? Well, it is. But for Ronan’s AnnaMarie Leafty, it’s also an example.

It’s an example of strength, of perseverance. Of what can be done in the face of an insurmountable challenge.

Eight years ago, AnnaMarie’s then 9-year-old daughter, Catherine, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. The road for the family hasn’t been an easy one over the better part of the past decade, but their bikes have made it a smoother one to ride.

AnnaMarie has always been a bike rider, but in 2007, it began to carry a purpose. She teamed up with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for a bike ride in Whitefish, helping raise money to find a cure for diabetes.

“I just had a passion for it and I went for it,” AnnaMarie said.

The next year, she rode again, this time in Death Valley, Calif., and then in 2009, travelled to Vermont for another 100-mile ride.

“I kind of just wanted to ride my bike and see other parts of the world but also do it for a good cause and help a good organization,” she said.

Later in 2009, AnnaMarie transitioned to riding for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), which holds an annual ride in Three Forks similar to the JDRF’s. The reason for the transition, she said, is because the JDRF requires more money to be raised in order to send riders away to different parts of the country. With the ADA, AnnaMarie could ask for what was comfortable from friends and family and not be obligated to reach a certain monetary plateau, while still having an impact on the fight against diabetes.

“If there’s ever a cure, it will be because of the efforts of the ADA and the JDRF,” she said.

In 2010, AnnaMarie’s husband, Thomas, turned out for his first ride for diabetes. Thomas is a pre-diabetic and his participation wasn’t only beneficial for the general fight against diabetes, but for his own as well.

“I was very grateful I was able to recruit my husband into cycling,” AnnaMarie said. “His health was failing him. He was overweight and needed to make a change in his life, so I bought him a bike, he lost a lot of weight and he’s been riding with me.”

Thomas’s first year he rode 50 miles, but joined his wife at this year’s 2011 event for the century mark. Being two of about 50 riders to do the 100-mile loop was only one part of this year’s race that made it special, however. For the first time, AnnaMarie and Thomas were joined by Catherine, now 17, and their other daughter, 15-year-old Megan. The “Ronan Riders” as they dubbed themselves, for the first time, took on the bicycling challenge together as part of a 500-rider field, with the daughters participating in the 12-mile-long family ride.

The ride gave AnnaMarie the opportunity to share something special with her family, but specifically Catherine, about facing an uphill battle head on.

“Riding a bike 100 miles can be challenging, but then when you have a head wind or whatever, it makes things even tougher,” AnnaMarie said. “When I go through an experience like that, I’m not going to think of it as ‘this is too hard, I’ve got to give up.’ It’s a challenge and I’m going to beat it. That’s the inspiration I want to give to my daughter, that this is hard, but you can beat this. With her coming with me this year, for the first time, she felt that energy and vision that, ‘yeah, I can beat this.’ Anything to empower her was worth the trip.”

To gain support for the ride, AnnaMarie sends out a letter, asking people to donate any amount that they can. The donation doesn’t work on a per-mile basis. AnnaMarie simply tells people that she’s riding 100 miles and people are free to put whatever they would like toward the wonderful cause. Some people donate $10, some $150, but it all adds up and AnnaMarie is grateful to all those who donate.

This year alone, the family raised $2,500 for the ADA. In the five years and six rides that AnnaMarie has participated in through the two organizations, with the help of friends, family and local businesses, she has been able to raise $18,000.

“Raising this money and seeing the technology improve and hope in my daughter’s lifetime, I’d love to see a cure for diabetes and keep us healthy in the meanwhile,” AnnaMarie said.

Though the cure has yet to be discovered, it’s not for a lack of effort. And while it may seem so far away, so might 100 miles. With the persistence of organizations and people such as AnnaMarie, it might not be easy, but, like each course AnnaMarie has biked, diabetes will be conquered.