HypoActive

Another year, another fantastic weekend for all who participated in the challenging 520km-in-24hours cycle relay from Echuca to Port Fairy.  HypoActive not only had their biggest ride team ever - including for the first time ever, TWO type 1 tandem teams - the team has set a new fundraising record for Diabetes Camps Victoria. You can still make a donation for this important cause by visiting our Everyday Hero page.

We have been running an all-type 1 diabetic team in this event for nine years straight, and are incredibly proud of this achievement. 

Read on to find out how the 2011 team members enjoyed their weekend. 

Sam Thompson

First time rider on the M2M with HypoActive

Hi All,
What a weekend!  I’m still on a ‘high’ after one of the most inspiring and enjoyable rides I’ve ever completed.  I believe over 100 teams completed the event, but our team (aptly named HypoActive) consisted on 15 riders (divided into 3 groups)  including 2 tandems,  5 crew members, and a dog trained to detect hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels) for its owner.  Our team consisted of various skills and riding abilities, but we all had one thing in common, Type 1 Diabetes. Together, we had over 400years of diabetes experience!  Relay changes didn’t just include time to fix mechanicals or pump up the tyres,  but involved several blood sugar tests and tight management of insulin doses, continuously for 24hrs-  no easy feat. I think our diabetes specialists would have been proud by the collective number of blood sugar tests taken (>300!).  I think there’s something to be said to be supported, encouraged and inspired by others with the condition, all doing something incredible, not just physically, but for a good cause.  This group really does more than  live up their mission: Enable the Type 1 community to live a more physically active lifestyle! 
 
The weather was perfect, except for the very strong head and cross winds for at least half of the ride.  In the 24hr timeframe,  I cycled 255km of the 520km our team did in total (I thought that was worth italics!).  Most of the country was flat, but the winds certainly made the little hills challenging.   I knew good nutrition and hydration would be key to the success of my ride and I’m happy to report I had that covered.  Good planning with my own endrocinologist helped too! Some of the highlights of the ride included the  amazing camaraderie of the team; the incredible crew who kept us on track, fed and hydrated and ensured  the entire ride ran smoothly and without a hitch; riding down hills through the quiet of the night in the country not really having a clue where I was; and cycling into port fairy with one seriously triumphant team. Even the short sleep from 3am to 6am in the shearer’s sheds on the cold hard concrete floor in Hamilton wasn’t all that bad! I’m still smiling ear-to-ear
 
As per the attached photo, I received my matching cycling kit!  Thankyou!  Turns out this kit is pretty exclusive, not only did you have to ride in the HypoActive team to obtain it, but you had to be blessed with Type 1 Diabetes! The  motto of the group is proudly printed on the front and back: Insulin injected engines! More importantly though, the HypoActive and Diabetes Australia Vic teams together raised almost $23 000 to support the Diabetes Australia Vic kids camps.  This money will enable children and adolescents the opportunity the attend a camp to meet others with Type 1 and learn how to manage their diabetes in a fun and supportive environment.  I hope one day I’ll get to see them riding the M2M!
 
Thankyou for your generous support! Till next year...
 
Cheers,
 
Sam

Sam has also raised almost $1200 for Diabetes Camps Victoria.  You can visit her personal fundraising page here.

Trevor Forrest

First time rider, but second time on the M2M (in 2010 Trevor crewed)

This was my 2nd year with the Hypoactive team, last year I was "the team chemist" (part of the support crew). I said to myself after that, that I would love to be able to ride with the team, but due to my limited vision this caused some concern with the "BOSS".
I met with another visually challenged T1 and proposed a solution to this problem, TANDEMS !!
We both then had to find pilots which turned out fine in the end. So Trevor & Acey  and Tony & Chris turned into the "Tandemoniums" Thanks Sharpie for the nickname !!
We had an absolute ball on this weekend, Tony & Chris rode approx 200km & rode for a total of 8 hrs, Trevor & Acey covered approx 120 km, but we aim to do a lot better next year !!
The weekend was fantastic, the team was supportive and inspirational to me and I thank them all !! The crew did an excellent job looking after us all, "mum" didnt have to nag much for BGL tests. I achieved one of my goals, to ride the M2M, I am now setting my sights (LOL) higher for next year !! I hope the "Tandemoniums" can be a part of the team for the 10th  Hypoactive M2M.
A special thanks to Monique & Ben for including us in the team, I realise it took a great deal of thought, preparation and effort to make it happen.
Trevor

Greg McCubbin 

First time rider with HypoActive on the M2M and recent AcT1vate graduate:

I am an inexperienced bike rider who was welcomed into this group of Type 1 diabetics. After only about 6 months on a road bike and all my training completed in flat country around Mildura, I found the ride an exhilarating experience and I have embraced upgrading to the No 1 group next year (hopefully)and have set my sights on completing a number of events between now and the next Murray to Moyne event.

The comaradery between the group was unbelievable. Everyone was supportive, understanding and for those whose blood sugar levels were too low to stay out on their bikes for planned double sessions the support from the team members was accepted gratefully.

Our support crew was unbelievable and they actually worked harder than the riders did over the weekend with food, lollies, blood tests and drinks being kept up to the resting and riders out on the road. The job done by these guys generallay goes unnoticed but, without these guys we would not have a team. Great job guys and thanks from all the team. 

From my personal point of view, this has opened my eyes to what can be achieved with good management over the distance of a long ride and will allow me to hopefully complete the 250kM Round the Bay in a day event, The Port to Port Event from Mildura to Echuca, The Tour Down Under and Degani Three Peaks is my utlimate aim all prior to being involved again (if I am required) in the team event in the tenth year of HypoActive having a relay team in the Murray to Moyne event.

The friends I have made and the team spirit over the weekend as well as the individual determination of each of the team to be able to ride their alloted shifts and extra shifts when required was uplifting and inspiring.

I was suffering with a head cold over the weekend but this paled into insignificance as the team spirit overwhelmed the ill feeling which head cold inflict on people. Although I completed the event successfully I did take a couple of sick days this week to help recover and not spread my germs to my workmates.

I look forward to keeping in touch with my team mates over the coming months and really do look forward to the next time we can all get together as a team to compete in a similar event and raise money for Diabetes in general.

In finishing thanks for the opportunity and look forward to getting together again with my team mates and support crew in the future.

Greg McCubbin  

Thanks!

Many thanks to our sponsors and supporters who helped make this weekend possible:

Jayco
Sanofi-Aventis
Medtronic
Abbott Diabetes Care
Diabetes Australia - Victoria 
Bluescope Steel Ballarat
The Nut Bloke
Creature Technologies
Longwarry CFA
 

Interested in being a part of our 10th anniversary ride in 2012? If you are type 1, have a road bike, can cycle for an hour, and share a passion for supporting kids with type 1, we'd love to have you on our team.  Join our mailing list to stay abreast of news, or email monique@hypoactive.org