Welcome to Tony Gallo’s ADA Tour de Cure page!

35 years ago, my doctor told me that I had type 2 diabetes. 

But don't call yourself a diabetic! What's the difference I asked? He told me that saying I am a diabetic would define me. It would control me. It is defeating. It weakens me. It makes me vulnerable. 
The former says I can control the disease, I can manage it, I can make choices to make my life better and maybe prevent really bad things in the future.

But he also told me that for now, it cannot be cured or stopped, only slowed!

A few months ago, I discovered I have type 3a CKD. Chronic Kidney Disease is one of the inevitable progressions of diabetes, and despite many years of good blood sugar control and working hard to stay in shape, it snuck up on me! Silently. Relentlessly.

I signed up for the ADA Tour de Cure bike ride this year so I can be a part of a national bike event that helps change the course for people living with diabetes and to raise awareness of the fact that millions of Americans have diabetes but do not know it! 93 million have pre-diabetes, mostly undetected.

I do feel an urgency to ride in the Tour now, as the future is, well, a little scary. I am training hard for this ride and I will ride a metric century (100 km or 62 miles).

I will also be riding proudly as a Red Rider. This is a special designation for people riding that have diabetes. We will all be wearing a special ADA red jersey to call attention to our cause. See my photo. If you are out on the route or see us on local training rides, yell out to us as we ride by to encourage us and to raise awareness of what we are all trying to accomplish.

Helping to raise some money for this cause will make a difference. Maybe not this year, or maybe not for me, but for someone in the future who will be cured with all the cutting-edge research your donations will help fund. Or even better, it will help to prevent someone from getting diabetes in the first place.

I originally set a big goal, and the support has been overwhelming. How can I thank you all personally? So, I am super encouraged  and will up the goal and I will train even harder! I hope I can count on you to support me and the ADA on this ride. All money will be collected through the ADA site directly and it is a secure transaction. Don't worry. No amount is too small. It all helps.

Just click on my URL for more information and donation instructions:
http://main.diabetes.org/goto/Tony_Gallo_CA

Together we can make a difference. Thank you for your support. 

Tony
ADA Red Rider!