Successful Tour!!!!

Congrats to all our riders on making the Tour de Cure in Pittsburgh a success. It was hot, but you were determined. The "twisted sisters" water stop was a hit for the 20 and 30 miles riders. Tyler made his 100 and everyone made it to work on Monday! Thanks again for your enthusiasm and participation.

Twisted Sisters Water Spot

The Dunlap sisters, will be helping out at the Mars water stop for the Tour de Cure. I am sure they will be encouraging, but watch out how they give out the water....I think throwing it may be the action of the day!!!!

Training Tyler

Tyler Donohue has been busy training to ride in the Tour de Cure. He has committed and trained for the 100 mile course. He also has been a fund raising animal! Everyone at DeLaTorre O & P appreciates all his efforts. Check out his Tour de Cure Webpage to see what he is doing.

Kopriva/Shipley Family Event

Kate Kopriva Shipley a Team Captain rides with a purpose and her family. Married to Jarid less than one year ago, she combines her new family, Jarid, with her original family, her dad Tom Kopriva, to ride in this years event. Her dad participates as a Red Rider.

Kate is a Prosthetist with our company. Her million dollar smile and professional attitude make her a patient favorite. All of her co-workers appreciate her input and energy in making us a great Prosthetic team.

Meet rider Donna Haburjak!

Donna is the Prosthetic Billing Manager for DeLaTorre O & P. That is her title but it hardly describes all that she does. If the Prosthetic Department is a machine, Donna is the oil. Donna was the first person who said she wanted to be a rider for the Tour de Cure this year. Not only will she ride, but she is joined by her husband George and daughter Emily. The Haburjak's put the "FAMILY" in Family Fun Ride.

There is a rumor that Donna will be bringing an extra bike for a secret rider, who will be riding in my place. I will be helping my nephew celebrate his wedding in Dallas, TX the weekend of the ride. I am happy that someone will RIDE ON for me.

Welcome Back! Much is happening!!!

Our team for the Tour de Cure is 12 riders strong. Our team captain is Kate Shipley. Many of our riders have not decided the distance they will go. Maybe your comments could encourage them. Or maybe you have some suggestions on just how far you think they CAN go. Here is the Team!

Kate Shipley Mike Bozik Drew Buffat Frank Dominick Erin Donohue Tyler Donohue Donna Haburjak George Haburjak Tom Kopriva Jarid Shipley Brian Smith Susan Stover-Smith

Several Very Good Reasons to Support this Ride

I should write this in red. Growing up in a neighborhood of all boys, I had one true girlfriend. We were like sisters in every sense. Oh except that very red hair of hers. As you may expect, the redhead got lots of attention - some good, some teasing. She responded in perfectly fiesty German-Irish redhead manners, of course! Me, I was just your basic snot-nosed street urchin tom-boy finding way too much dirt and trouble than I should. My redheaded friend was diagnosed with diabetes at around age four. It was when she questioned her mother about the "two boxes of cereal on the table" that got her a trip to the eye doctors and then... well, you can guess it from there. Boy did I every want to get diabetes. She got to go to special camps but I couldn't go with her, since I didn't have 'sugar'. I tried. Eating spoonfuls of white sugar would be my way to camp. That wasn't a good idea at all! In her early 30's she had quadruple bypass surgery. She's still alive, still my friend and in her 50's. When we talk of diabetes, she shakes her head and still hopes for a cure. She wears an implanted insulin pump now, her skin on her belly is thicken, she has a stent, and always -always- at the doctor's office to check this or that. Now my real sister has diabetes - adult onset. She feels shame about this. So many of our patients will not admit to having diabetes. So many of our prosthetic patients are a result of this disease. While this ride, this event will be filled with fun - this disease is not and can happen to any of us. It can happen to your mother, your sister, you or your red headed friend. Post your stories. For fun, for knowledge, for support. Oh De La Torre will still give a nice donation despite the ticker amount you may see over there - but let's show a community of friends, patients, clinicians, researchers, family - that joyously support a cure.