[media-credit name=”Venturini Motorsports” align=”alignright” width=”225″]
[/media-credit]While 18-year-old rookie Ryan Reed continues to improve on track, he is spreading word about Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). This weekend at Toledo Speedway, Reed will kick off the Ryan’s Mission Wristband Drive.
“We have developed some great partnerships within the past month with companies like PacificHealth Labs, Accelerade, Logitech, RaceHard.com, PlaySeat, iRacing, and IRP,” Reed says. “This entire drive really relies on all of the commitment that they have given me and Ryan’s Mission.”
The wristbands came about through a partnership between RaceHard.com, PacificHealth Labs, Accelerade and Ryan’s Mission. The goal is to raise $150,000 by the end of the year to benefit JDRF. JDRF is the world’s largest funding provider for research towards curing, treating and preventing T1D and its complications.
“It’s a really neat idea – each wristband will have Ryan’s Mission on it along with the participating partner’s logo,” Reed continues. “So if you are a big advocate of Accelerade drinks like I am, then you can sport it with a Ryan’s Mission/Accelerade wristband and all for a good cause. Win Win.”
In February 2011, Ryan Reed was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was told that he would never be able to race again. However, after getting in contact with a doctor through IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball, he was told that it was possible.
Now a year and three months later, Reed finds himself sitting fourth in the ARCA Racing Series Championship standings after four races this season.
Reed formed Ryan’s Mission shortly after finding out that he’d be able to race to inspire others.
“I know other kids are being told that they won’t be able to do things and only some are lucky enough to find doctors that are as supportive as mine and able to still chase their dreams,” he says. “So Ryan’s Mission was formed almost immediately and I just wanted to show kids and spread that message and not be held back.”
Behind the mission, there’s a dedicated team of individuals who are doing events while Reed is racing to help spread the word.
“I really have to thank my parents for creating the infrastructure of my team that makes all of this happen,” Reed says. “From offices in California to offices in North Carolina; I’m not really sure how they make all of this come together – but they do. It’s pretty amazing.”
The wristbands can currently be purchased for a $5.00 donation through Ryan’s Mission (www.ryansmission.org), RaceHard.com (www.racehard.com/jdrf) and PacificHealth Labs / Accelerade (www.pacifichealthlabs.com).
