AJ Jordan
First JDRF Ride

What’s your connection to type one?
Type 1 has been a huge, and devastating part of my life.  My father and uncle were both diagnosed with Type 1 when they were younger.  The disease claimed both of their lives in their 40’s.  My younger brother was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was 11, and my younger sister was diagnosed when she was 24 years old.  I am the only child in my family without the disease.

Why did you decide to ride for JDRF?
Last year, I turned 30.  I decided that instead of dreading leaving my 20’s, I wanted to make a list of 30 things that I wanted to do/accomplish in my 30’s-thirty things that I could do make my 30’s incredible.  My sister and brother-in-law had completed two JDRF rides already, and they challenged me to make that a part of my list, so I registered.

How many years (roughly) have you been riding?
5 years.

What are you most looking forward to about the Ride to Cure Diabetes?
I am looking forward to riding with others who have similar stories and purposes, and I am looking forward to the accomplishment of crossing the finish line of my first century ride.

What’s your favorite post-ride treat/snack/meal?
I love ice cream!  I also love G2 and oranges.

If you could Ride anywhere other than Nashville, where would it be?
Tucson or Death Valley

Chris Jayne
Veteran JDRF Rider

What’s your connection to type one?
I have had Type 1 for over 4 years now.

Why did you decide to ride for JDRF?
When I got diagnosed in 2009, I immediately knew that I needed to do two things: Make sure I stay in the best shape possible, and help out JDRF as much as I can. Needless to say, this was a perfect marriage.

How many years (roughly) have you been riding?
The training wheels game off when I was a kid, but I’ve been really serious about riding since being diagnosed in 2009.

What are you most looking forward to about the Ride to Cure Diabetes?
The buzz at the Friday night reception is amazing. It makes all the miles you ride the next say seem like a piece of cake.

What’s your favorite post-ride treat/snack/meal?
Whatever is in front of me.

If you could Ride anywhere other than Nashville, where would it be?
It’s a dream to be able to ride some the routes featured in the European grand tours (French Alps, Tuscan Countryside…I’m not picky)

Sean Sanders
Veteran JDRF Rider

What’s your connection to type one?
My wife, Ashley, diagnosed over 20 years ago.

Why did you decide to ride for JDRF?
I was looking for a way to get involved with JDRF and discovered the ride program. I had a background of cycling, so it was a good fit.

How many years (roughly) have you been riding?
First ride was Asheville 2005, Nashville 2014 will be my 10th Ride for the Cure.

What are you most looking forward to about the Ride to Cure Diabetes?
The fellowship with other people and families who are impacted by T1D. My family is joining me this year, so to have them “marinate” in the experience is important to me.

What’s your favorite post-ride treat/snack/meal?
Willy’s burrito.

If you could Ride anywhere other than Nashville, where would it be?
Colorado

Barry Kaplan
Veteran JDRF Rider

 

What’s your connection to type one?
I was first introduced to JDRF in 2011 by Barry Falcon (whose son Michael has T1D), but now I’m doing this primarily for my friend Mark Willoughby and his 8 year old daughter Jovanna, who was diagnosed with T1D two years ago at age 6

Why did you decide to ride for JDRF?
Falcon put me up to it in 2011. It was my first century (La Crosse, WI). After that an a few other centuries, I swore never to subject myself to another 100 mile ride. But 2 years ago, before I swore off Centuries, I promised my dear friend Mark Willoughby, a soccer player and not a cyclist, that if he bought a bicycle, I’d help him train for a JDRF Century, fundraise, and ride with him.  Two years after the offer, he took me up on it. As a man of my word, I’m breaking my promise to myself in order to keep my promise to him. After training with the Atlanta group and working with Coach Mark Gilliam, I know I made the right decision.

How many years (roughly) have you been riding?
Since late 2009; almost 5 years

What are you most looking forward to about the Ride to Cure Diabetes?
The camaraderie and organization of the ride. The previous JDRF ride I participated in was, by far, the best organized ride I had ever been a part of.

What’s your favorite post-ride treat/snack/meal?
Ice cold Chocolate Milk

If you could Ride anywhere other than Nashville, where would it be?
Jackson, Wyoming area

Trey Boden
Veteran JDRF Rider

What’s your connection to type one?
As rare as it seems, my wife Lauren was diagnosed with Type I on her 24th birthday. She is not the first to have Type I in her family. Her father, uncle, and brother all have had Type I since childhood.

Why did you decide to ride for JDRF?
After Lauren was diagnosed we wanted in some way to fight back. We heard about the JDRF rides by looking online for resources. We rode our first ride with JDRF at Lake Tahoe almost one year after Lauren’s diagnosis.

How many years (roughly) have you been riding?
I have always been a bike rider, but mostly mountain biking. I started my road biking experience when Lauren and I decided to ride our first JDRF ride.

What are you most looking forward to about the Ride to Cure Diabetes?
I love the community the ride builds. I am also looking forward to fall riding weather!

What’s your favorite post-ride treat/snack/meal?
Steak… or any grilled meats, really.

If you could Ride anywhere other than Nashville, where would it be?
Ireland. It’s a bucket-list experience of mine to bike across Ireland for charity.