Pedaling toward a cure for diabetes

Paul Meyers prayed while he rode his bike.

He prayed 50 times during his 100-kilometer bike ride.

That is, one time for every member of the pastor's congregation in Plato Center who suffers from diabetes.

"Every one of us here, bikers, kind of like to stick together," he said. "It's kind of a family. To have family focused on trying to cure a disease is pretty good."

Meyers was one of more than 400 participants in the Tour de Cure, a bike ride to raise money for diabetes research. The riders had a choice of a 25-, 60- or 100-kilometer bike ride.

The course wound its way through Batavia and neighboring Elburn and Kaneville.

Alex Meininger said it felt good to finish the 60-kilometer course.

"It was an exhilarating course," he said. "The temperature couldn't have been much hotter, but we survived."

Meininger, a doctor of orthopedics, was a member of Team Biotene, sponsored by a California-based company that makes oral products specifically for people with diabetes.

Kenya Harris, a communications director for the American Diabetes Association, said the turnout was great.

"It's an excellent opportunity for family members to get together and do it for a good cause," she said.

Riders were encouraged to create teams, but the ride was not competitive.

The bike ride for diabetes has been around for more than 25 years and has been called the Tour de Cure for 10 years.

In 2007, the tour, which involves events in more than 40 states across the country, raised more than $200,000 for diabetes research.

Although Meyers does not have diabetes, he said he spoke to members of the congregation who do and they related several stories, including a couple of stories about people who no longer can ride bikes because of their condition.

"(The congregation) said, 'It's really cool what you're doing,' " he said. "It has helped me realize what I take for granted."