Allez! Allez!

(Hey everybody, here's an announcement that I wrote about my upcoming Tour de France viewing party. I'd love to see a lot of you there. The ride is optional, and it's kid friendly)

Tour de France viewing party benefits diabetes research

SAUGATUCK, Mich. — Cycling's Tour de France is one of the most mythic sporting events of all time, and with seven-time champion Lance Armstrong seeking to return to glory after four years of retirement, the excitement level is even higher. West Michigan cycling fans will have a chance to celebrate the Tour's storied final stage while supporting the fight against type 1 diabetes.

On JULY 26 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Spectators Bar and Grill in Saugatuck will host a benefit viewing party of the Tour de France's stage 21, which ends on the Champs-Elysees, with proceeds to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's West Michigan cycling team. The breakfast buffet costs $8, with a portion of each benefiting the JDRF team. Spectators is located at 6432 Blue Star Hwy in Saugatuck. For more information, call (269) 857-5001.

Spectators owner and chef Clare Ray said the restaurant is happy to host the event. "I've been a fan of the Tour de France since Greg LeMond was the first American to win back in the '80s," Ray said. "This gives us a chance to not only celebrate cycling, but to help JDRF in its quest for a cure for type one diabetes."

This year, some 58 riders are raising funds to participate in hundred-mile events in Killington Vt. or Death Valley, Calif. Since 2005, the West Michigan JDRF ride team has raised some $778,000 for the charity, and this year so far has raised nearly $100,000 more. Team member and event organizer Brian J. Bowe said the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes program is physically challenging, but also rewarding. "The team is filled with dedicated people who are focused on helping find a cure for diabetes, all while reaping the amazing physical benefits of spending lots of time on the bike," he said. "

Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes, is a devastating, often deadly disease that affects millions of people — a large and growing percentage of them children. Insulin keeps people with type 1 diabetes alive, but it's not a cure. Along with the challenges of living with diabetes, there are many severe and/or fatal complications caused by the disease. Thanks to advanced research, a cure for type 1 diabetes is within reach. The JDRF funding and its leadership is associated with most major scientific breakthroughs in diabetes research. JDRF funds a major portion of all type 1 diabetes research worldwide, more than any other charity.

Note: A an optional pre-breakfast road bike ride will leave from Velo City Cycles, 77 E 8th Street in Holland, at 7:30 a.m.

http://spectatorsrestaurant.com/