Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 7-3-18

Local
Rider For Diabetes Awareness Gets Some Help As He Embarks On 5th Journey
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
For four years, Neville Lee has depended on the help of donors and sponsors to help cover the expenses of his cross-country ride to spread diabetes awareness.
This year, he’s hoping to get a little help from some bots.
Lee, founder of 2 Wheels 1 Cause, has com- missioned an artist – whose father is a diabetic – to weld metal “bots” to help raise money as he prepares for his fifth year of motorcycling thousands of miles to pre- vent more people from suc- cumbing to the chronic illness.
To mark the milestone year, Lee is embarking on the daunting “four corners” bike route that will kick off in August in Key West. From there, Lee will travel to Maine, then Washington state and next California, before returning home to Tampa.
The escapade will bring Lee through 33 states
NEVILLE LEE
where he’ll stop to visit col- lege campuses and talk with students about the warning signs of diabetes.
It’s a demographic that’s often overlooked regarding diabetes education, Lee said.
This year’s ride will be Lee’s most expensive, cost- ing an estimated $20,000. Some of that will be covered by grassroots fundraising via social media and through sponsorship by local businesses. It also will be the most logistically chal- lenging, with Lee driving thousands of miles for an es- timated 60 days.
At the end, Lee will have reached another milestone: having taken his unique message of diabetes preven- tion to all lower 48 states.
Lee, who suffers from Type-II diabetes, said he’s
2 WHEELS 1 CAUSE BOTS
preparing himself now for the drive.
“I know it’s going to test my mental and physical self to the limits,” he said. “This one is going to be grueling because I’ll be hitting every season.”
It’s a risk to his health, but Lee says it’s worth it if it can limit the persistence of the illness, which affects 13 percent of African-Ameri- cans.
The seventh-leading cause of death in the U. S., diabetes often is an underre- ported illness, with about 35 to 40 percent of people with
the illness who died had di- abetes listed anywhere on their death certificates, ac- cording to the American Di- abetes Association.
Lee said it’s those grim numbers that keep him going on the road year after year.
“The whole goal is to say ‘I’m a diabetic and I can do this’,” he said. “It’s all about inspiration.”
2 Wheels 1 Cause
To celebrate the fifth an- niversary of the 2 Wheels 1 Cause motorcycle ride for diabetes awareness, Neville Lee will travel to the “four corners” of the country. Support or follow Lee along his journey at www.2wheels1cause.org or on Twitter at @2wheels1cause.
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2018