CONCORD, N.C. (June 17, 2015) – American Diabetes Association® Youth Ambassador Alyssa Speagle will ride along with Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. The Forsyth,Ill. native will have her name featured on a decal above the passenger-side door on the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang.
Like Reed, Speagle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007. She was eight years old at the time. Now 16, Speagle is a high school sophomore who enjoys art and volunteering at a local animal shelter.
Speagle is an active fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association, participating in the annual Step Out®: Walk to Stop Diabetes® and Kiss a Pig Gala. To date, she has raised over $50,000 for the American Diabetes Association.
Ryan Reed and the ‘Riding with Ryan’ program roll into Chicagoland Speedway this weekend for a 200-lap event on the 1.5-mile track. The name of a Youth Ambassador will be featured on the No. 16 Ford Mustang each weekend for the remainder of the 2015 season.
“It’s amazing to see how active Alyssa is in fundraising for the diabetes community while living the life of a normal high school student,” said Reed. “The whole purpose of the Drive to Stop Diabetes program is to show people living with diabetes that it doesn’t have to stop them from doing what they love. It’s so inspiring to continue to find Youth Ambassadors like Alyssa that are such great role models for others living with the disease.”
The NASCAR XFINITY Series takes the green flag from Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, June 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and MRN.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes.
