06/05/2008 - DHS Grad to Bike Across America

Alex Bowden in senior photo and with TeamType I (second from left)

Alex Bowden, a senior at DHS and son of Susan Bowden, Speech and Language Pathologist at DeKalb High School will be competing in an ultra endurance bike race called Race Across America (RAAM) this summer.  Alex is the youngest member of an elite cycling team, Team Type 1 (TT1), which is comprised of riders who all have Type 1 diabetes.

Race Across America starts Wednesday June 11th. The eight members of TT1 making up the RAAM team will take off from Oceanside California at 2:00 p.m. and travel across the country, finishing in Annapolis Maryland the morning of Tuesday June 17th.  Last year TT1 set the record and completed the race in 5 days 15 hours and 43 minutes.  This year they hope to break their own record.  TT1’s goal is to demonstrate to all people with diabetes and everyone that a disease or a disability should not keep you from striving to reach your goals.

About Alex: This is Alex’s second year cycling for TT1 and his first year to participate in RAAM.  He began cycling competitively in the summer of 2005.  He was diagnosed with diabetes in 5th grade at the age of 11.  He graduated in January from DHS in order to spend time second semester traveling around the country with the team to races, and also to be a guest speaker at support groups, medical seminars, and other medical functions.  Just before RAAM begins the team will speak at the national conference for the American Diabetes Association, and in July at the nation conference for the Children with Diabetes in Orlando Florida.  This fall Alex will attend Lindenwood University in St. Charles MO., majoring in business, where he has been offered a scholarship to ride for their varsity cycling team.

Website – www.teamtype1.org   On the website you can read about the team, see bios of the riders and there is also a link to the RAAM website where you can follow the race and see the standings at each stop along the route.  The race actually has a stop in Effingham Illinois, so it comes only a few short hours from home.    http://www.teamtype1.org/riders/RAAM/bowden.shtml is the link to Alex’s bio.

Quick facts about diabetes:  There are two major types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.  Type 1, usually diagnosed in childhood, is an autoimmune disease which destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin. Everyone with Type 1 must monitor their blood sugar levels several times a day, monitor their food intake and take several insulin injections a day to stay alive.  Type 2, which is the more common form, is a metabolic disorder.   People with Type 2 produce insulin but their bodies are unable to use it effectively. Type 2 is usually diagnosed in adulthood and often can be controlled by dietary changes and exercise and occasionally requires medication.

# # #