EAST PHARSALIA – Planning and preparations are in full-swing and Heidee’s 6th Annual Memorial Cruise for Diabetes will be held Saturday, August 3, rain or shine.
Sign up for the ride begins at 9 a.m. the day of the event at Fred’s Inn, Route 12, in Norwich. The ride starts at 10:30 a.m. and will make a number of stops before ending at the Balsam Inn in East Pharsalia. The cost for the event is $15 per person.
Nancy Maclaury has been organizing the event after losing her daughter more than six years ago. Her daughter, Heidee Peterson, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of three, and she struggled with the disease until age 30.
Maclaury has hopes her diligent work with planning and holding the event each year will foster cognizance about diabetes, serve as a celebration of the life of her daughter, and be a method of raising funds for the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
In the last five years, Maclaury has been able to raise $11,500, all of which is donated to the ADA. Her goal this year, she said, is to raise $4,000 after expenses.
“The ride has gotten bigger and bigger,” said Maclaury. “It would be really great to reach our goal.”
Riding a motorcycle is not required to participate in the ride or attend the event. Cars are welcome to cruise with the motorcycles, and people are welcome to meet at the Balsam Inn to take part in events there if they are not able to take part in the ride.
According to Maclaury, the first year the event was held, there were 35 riders, and the most there have been since the ride’s inception has been 68.
“I would love to see 100,” she said. “That would just be great.”
Food will be provided by the Balsam Inn. There will be a 50/50 raffle, other raffles including items donated from local businesses, and entertainment provided by Rockstar DJ.
Maclaury stated some area organizations and businesses have already graciously contributed to her efforts, and include but are not limited to the Binghamton Senators, Norwich Implement, the Northeast Classic Car Museum and Bartle’s Pharmacy.
Students at the Oxford Middle School raised and donated approximately $250 through a “penny wars” fundraiser, added Maclaury.
Local companies or individuals are still able to offer in-kind donations, monetary donations, and raffle items.
“Someone is diagnosed with diabetes in the United States every 17 seconds,” said Kris Alexich of the American Diabetes Association and manager of the Step Out Walk. “The dollars raised through Nancy’s efforts support the mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Diabetes not only affects the individual with the disease, but their entire family and network of friends. Nancy’s family has been directly affected with the loss of her beautiful daughter.”
The money raised by Maclaury will go to the Step Out Walk, hosted by the ADA and held at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City in November. This year’s goal for that event is $75,000, and according to Alexich, Maclaury’s efforts with Heidee’s Memorial Cruise are a terrific help.
Maclaury said family and friends will attend the event from a number of other states, including Maine and Vermont. She said there are people who have been to each year’s event, and welcomes those who have not been in the past to take part this year.
Said Alexich, “Nancy is so hard working; she has the drive, passion and will ... we will reach this goal.”
For more information about the event contact Nancy Maclaury at 647-5015 or 244-9449, or Shane Wilcox at 316-5969.