Last Saturday's third annual Ride to Cure Diabetes in the Barossa Valley has exceeded the original fundraising target of $485,000 by raising more than $600,000 for diabetes research. Over three years, $1 million dollars has been raised through the Jacob's Creek sponsored event.

On Saturday 21 January, over 170 amateur cyclists from all over Australia converged on the Barossa Valley to participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Ride to Cure Diabetes. Participants braved the high temperatures to complete either a 35km, 80km or 160km course to raise money for much needed research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.

The Ride to Cure Diabetes is affiliated with the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under and supported by champion cyclist and former Olympian Stephen Hodge. Participants were also joined by Adelaide Crows footballer, Nathan Bassett, who has type 1 diabetes himself.

Phil Chronican, Head of Institutional Banking at Westpac, said, "This is the third time I have taken part in the Ride to Cure Diabetes and every year we've been able to scale up the Westpac contribution. This year Team Westpac has involved more staff than ever before and we are aiming to raise over $150,000 for diabetes research. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation are a great charity to support as they are totally focused and committed to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes - a disease that affects thousands of Australian families. The Ride is a great experience for the whole Westpac team and has helped give those involved a sense of achievement and direct exposure to the cause that we're supporting."

Participants in the Ride range in age from 10 to 70 years, and most have a connection with type 1 diabetes - they either live with the disease themselves or are riding for someone who does. Riders have spent recent months raising a minimum of $3500 ($2800 for SA residents) each to participate.

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.

ENDS

To arrange interviews with JDRF CEO Mike Wilson, photographs or for further information:

Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0172 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.