Saskatchewan man cycles to mark 50 years with diabetes
Bryne Degerness cycled 60 km and raised over $8,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association to commemorate his 50th anniversary of living with type 1 diabetes.
To mark 50 years living with type 1 diabetes, Bryne Degerness cycled from Tisdale to Nipawin, Saskatchewan, raising over $8,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association on June 9.
Degerness, whose daughter also lives with type 1 diabetes, said the 60 km ride took him five hours, 10 minutes to complete.
“It was a tough ride, but I made it,” said Degerness. “I had to prove to a lot of people that I could do it. It’s something I had to accomplish.”
He was diagnosed with diabetes at age six, and wanted to challenge himself to the cycling event to mark 50 years living with the condition. After struggling with blood sugar control for years, Degerness said his health has improved since going on an insulin pump two years ago. Without the use of the pump, Degerness said he could not have completed the ride.
His Diabetes Educator, Carlene Schmaltz, agrees, “I would not have been able to support this bike event on his previous insulin regime. He would have never had the blood sugar stability to make it happen safely.”
Schmaltz has been working with him for about 15 years, and said the cycling trip was a huge feat for Degerness. “I can’t begin to describe to you his pride and sense of accomplishment after he finished the ride. If only we could bottle that energy up!”
Warren Wagner, Regional Director for the Canadian Diabetes Association, Saskatchewan Region, extended gratitude to Degerness for his fundraising efforts. “Our staff is so proud of Bryne for accomplishing this trip, and exemplifying that people with diabetes can lead active lives,” he said. “On behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association, I’d like to thank Bryne for his generosity in supporting the work we do.”