This ride started with one question: What would you do for someone you love?

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Pat McAleer answered that question with action. This summer, he’ll set out on a solo, fully independent ride from La Push, Washington, on July 15th, 2026, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, on October 15th, 2026. 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.

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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.

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Through it all, they found strength. Within each other, their community, and the support of Breakthrough T1D.

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Today, Mary Kate is 27 and working as a registered nurse in Richmond. Living with type 1 diabetes is still part of her daily life, but she meets it with strength, using tools like a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump to stay in control. The way she handles it all is a continuing source of inspiration for Pat.  After years of supporting Breakthrough T1D through volunteering and leadership, Pat kept asking himself one question:  What more can I do?

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This ride is his answer.

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Pat has always loved to ride, but this journey is about more than the road ahead. With retirement giving him the opportunity to go all in, he’s turning his passion into purpose. Taking this once-in-a-lifetime journey to support those living with type 1 diabetes and help drive progress toward a cure.​ Because this ride isn’t just about miles.​ It’s about doing something hard for people who never get a break.