All eight members of the squad have Type 2 diabetes. People living with the disease have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies either do not use insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.
Team Type 2 Director Bob Avritt said simply participating in the race is a daunting task. Teams in the eight-person division begin their 3,021-mile (4,861 km) cross-country journey Saturday at 2 p.m. PDT in Oceanside, Calif. The race ends in Annapolis, Md.
“I can only wait to see the impact that Team Type 2 will have on the diabetes community,” Avritt said. “Our sponsors have been incredibly supportive and we will not let them down.”
Team Type 2 is an extension of Team Type 1, which was founded in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge. Team Type 1 has an eight-person team competing in RAAM, as well as men’s and women’s professional programs, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 2 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.
Team Type 2’s squad consists of (name, age, hometown):
John Anderson, 48, Crofton, Md.
Bob Avritt, 42, Littleton, Colo.
Bill Arnold, 48, West Lafayette, Ind.
Bob Chaisson, 48, Severna Park, Md.
Larry Cleveland, 40, Wilmington, N.C.
Peter Cowley, 42, Milwaukee
Mark Thul, 49, Lyons, Colo.
Denny Vorhees, 58, Sayre, Penn.
Avritt said his biggest concern is the health and welfare of his fellow riders, who average 47 years of age.
“Since we’re all first timers, doing something we’ve never done before, this is as extreme as it gets in the Race Across America,” he said. “But I also think it’s important to mention that all of the members of Team Type 2 hold regular jobs. We have families who have supported us through this process.”
