Hero Inspires Son to
Make a Difference
By JENNIFER HOUCHINS
Ken Mayfield is not only the 2008 American
Diabetes Association (ADA) Tour de Cure chair,
he is a great inspiration to others. Deeply committed
to the cause, he inspires others to do their part to
fight diabetes by riding, fund raising and volunteering for
the ADA. When Ken first became involved with the organization
six years ago, he had no idea that his own family
would be profoundly affected by diabetes.
Ken’s introduction to the ADA began in 2002 when he
volunteered to drive the luggage truck for the Tour – an
assignment he proudly accepted again the following year.
Wanting to do even more, he decided to ride in the 2004
Tour and has been doing so ever since.
It was in 2007 that Ken’s dedication and drive took on a
new fervor. His father, his ‘hero,’ had been diagnosed with
type 2 diabetes in late 2006. And like so many individuals
with the same diagnosis, his father chose to ignore it and
kept it from his family. On New Year’s Eve, he had a diabetes-induced stroke. Over the next several months, Ken’s
father was in and out of hospitals and nursing facilities.
Committed to helping with his father’s care, Ken wasn’t sure
if he would be able to ride in the 2007 Tour. However, he
continued to raise money for the ride and ultimately doubled
his goal.
He ended up riding that year, thanks to the tremendous
outpouring of support from his teammates and
friends. “I’ll never forget that ride,” said Ken. “Because
of my dad, it took on a new meaning. It was a very sad
time, but I had such hope and was proud to be a part of
such a great cause.”
A week after the ride, his father passed away. After the
funeral, Ken continued his dedication to the cause and traveled
to Louisiana to ride in the St. Francisville Tour de Cure. “Riding gave me the opportunity to grieve, while honoring
my dad’s memory,” recalled Ken. “It meant a lot to me to be
able to participate in an event committed to finding a cure
for the very disease that killed my hero.”
From that point on, Ken has continued his ‘mission’
to support the ADA and
stepped up to chair this
year’s event. He’s also the
captain of his company’s
team, the NuStar Novas, and
is excited about the team’s
participation in the Tour.
As the event chair, Ken has
set many goals for this year’s
Tour, including increasing ridership,
building corporate support
and enhancing public
awareness of diabetes. He’s
also working to educate individuals
on riding, including the
importance of training and
bike safety. “Of course, my
ultimate goal is to help find a
cure for diabetes,” says Ken.
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