A group of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Youth Ambassadors will receive an early Christmas present today when they get the opportunity to meet their sporting idol, Nathan Bassett, who also has type 1 diabetes. The group are getting together to promote the upcoming Ride to Cure Diabetes in the Barossa Valley on 21 January.

Nathan has taken up the challenge to cycle 160km and raise money for much needed research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. He is encouraging Crows fans and the Adelaide community to sponsor him.

Riders have spent recent months raising a minimum of $2800 each to participate in the fully supported one day ride. Participants will complete a 35km, 80km, or 160km course, all of which start and finish at the Jacob's Creek Visitors Centre in the Barossa Valley.

Over 140,000 Australians suffer from type 1 diabetes. The most serious form of diabetes, type 1 diabetes occurs when the body loses its ability to produce insulin. Generally striking children and young adults, it makes sufferers dependent on multiple injections of insulin every day, just to survive. It can't be prevented and there is no cure. Many people believe that insulin is a cure but even with insulin type 1 diabetes causes severe health problems over time, such as heart disease, amputation, blindness and kidney failure.

Support Nathan by making an online donation at www.jdrf.org.au/ride, click on sponsor a rider and select Nathan Bassett. Or call JDRF on 1300 363 126. It's not too late to sign up and take part in the Ride to Cure Diabetes - there are still limited day packages available (fundraising minimum of $1000). For more details visit www.jdrf.org.au/ride or call 1300 363 126.

ENDS

For further information:

Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au

About JDRF:

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the world's largest not-for-profit supporter of diabetes research, investing $130 million in the search to find a cure for type 1 diabetes each year. JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, a disease which strikes people suddenly, makes them dependent on multiple daily injections of insulin to survive and at risk of devastating health complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and amputation.