Father Brian Quinn, an avid cyclist, didn’t try to pedal his way to a new “personal best” time this year.
Instead, Father Quinn, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Randolph, biked 62 miles of the annual Breakthrough T1D Ride on Aug. 3 at a pace with some of the other riders in his group, while still getting a vigorous workout. This year, he focused on enjoying cycling through stretches of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa with 400 other riders from around the United States. The priest finished in a respectable five hours.
“I wanted to have fun on the ride — chatting and laughing with the other riders. I didn’t want to ride too fast and miss the beautiful scenery alongside the Mississippi River,” said Father Quinn. He decided not to bike a more strenuous 100-mile route he had taken previously.
Father Quinn instead is striving for a different type of “personal best” this year. He hopes to reach the goal of $100,000 in his total fundraising efforts for the organization which the ride benefits: Breakthrough T1D. It was formerly called the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The priest was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, or T1D when he was 14.
So far, Father Quinn has raised $84,296 over the nine consecutive years he has participated in the ride. He has collected $13,000 from friends and parishioners this year. He is asking generous Catholics of the Paterson Diocese to raise upwards of $3,000 to help him reach or top his $100,000 goal.
T1D impacts millions of people and has no cure. People manage the disease by regularly monitoring their blood sugar levels and injecting or infusing insulin through a pump. They carefully balance those doses with eating and daily activities to prevent uncomfortable, and even dangerous, side effects — every day, according to Breakthrough T1D.
“Treatments have improved tremendously over the past 10 years. Continuous glucose monitors can predict a person’s eating schedule and alert him or her when to eat more carbohydrates. Insulin pumps can boost insulin when needed. They simplify many aspects of our lives,” Father Quinn said. “Breakthrough T1D is at the forefront of research and advocacy for people with diabetes. I want to support that mission.”
Father Quinn’s friend, Jeanette Mackesy, joined him on Aug. 3 for the flat highway ride, which began in La Crosse, Wis. They then pedaled through part of Minnesota, reached Iowa, and returned to La Crosse. Both of them documented their journey on social media.
As coach of a group from the New Jersey chapter of Breakthrough T1D, Father Quinn addressed members’ basic mechanical issues, such as flat tires. He reminded them to stay hydrated in the heat that peaked in the low 90s.
For the past 10 years, Father Quinn’s other rides took him to Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Amelia Island, Fla.; and Grand Rapids, Mich. Physically fit, he plans to participate in future rides for diabetes research — for him and friends with the disease.
“I know there is still the possibility of a cure for diabetes in my lifetime,” Father Quinn said.
Click here to donate to Father Quinn’s fundraising campaign for Breakthrough T1D.
