Meet Pat:

Pat McAleer answered that question with action. This summer, he’ll set out on a solo, fully independent ride from La Push, Washington, to Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is covering thousands of miles to raise awareness and funds for type 1 diabetes research. This personal mission has grown into something bigger. It’s a challenge rooted in the belief that more can always be done.

Pat and his wife Molly, have spent more than 30 years building a life together and raising their two daughters, Abby and Mary Kate. In 2009, that life took an unexpected turn when 10-year-old Mary Kate was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Like many families, they quickly had to adapt, learning to count carbs, monitor blood sugar, and stay constantly alert.