2016 Pascua Yaqui cycling program
Donation protected
As many of you know, I help with a program that works with people in the Native American community living with diabetes. We use a community-based intervention centered on exercise and education to empower people to live healthier and happier lives. I myself have diabetes and understand the value of a support structure outside of a medical team, and the value of exercise in diabetes management. I also understand how fun it is to ride bikes.
Here’s what we do: We create a system where people on the Pascua Yaqui reservation serve as role models for each other and mentor each other in increasing exercise and improving diet. We help remove the barriers between them and the healthier, happier, versions of themselves they want to be. We do this by providing bikes, equipment and a mobile market. We focus on an event in November at which our riders join over 8000 others in riding various distances up to 109 miles. We had over 100 people ride this year; 4 years ago a Yaqui person had never ridden the event.
After 4 years of this program, we have seen demonstrable drops in Hba1c (long term blood glucose control) that are ten times better than traditional interventions (which we like to term "white people in white coats"). What we can't do is get those “white people in white coats” to fund our program.
Our NIH Proposal came up [MP1] against the objection that our mentors are under qualified. I, for one, don’t know anyone better qualified to work in the native community than native people (certainly not me with a doctorate). We also met the objection[MP2] that cycling is dangerous. However, with a drastically reduced life expectancy for Native American people with diabetes, I would argue that not cycling is far more dangerous. I understand that it can be hard for people a long way from where we are to understand our circumstances, but I also understand what it means to give someone their health and future back and I need help, and money, to keep doing that.
I'm looking for funding, but I’m also looking for ideas. If you have either of those, please get in touch. If you just have a few dollars, please help us out. We fall into the middle ground between research and philanthropy because we are doing a little of both and a lot of good. If we can raise enough to file papers a separate 501c3, we should be able to go from there to apply for bigger grants to grow the program and help more people. Anything is appreciated. I’d be forever indebted for your help. Thanks
Here’s what we do: We create a system where people on the Pascua Yaqui reservation serve as role models for each other and mentor each other in increasing exercise and improving diet. We help remove the barriers between them and the healthier, happier, versions of themselves they want to be. We do this by providing bikes, equipment and a mobile market. We focus on an event in November at which our riders join over 8000 others in riding various distances up to 109 miles. We had over 100 people ride this year; 4 years ago a Yaqui person had never ridden the event.
After 4 years of this program, we have seen demonstrable drops in Hba1c (long term blood glucose control) that are ten times better than traditional interventions (which we like to term "white people in white coats"). What we can't do is get those “white people in white coats” to fund our program.
Our NIH Proposal came up [MP1] against the objection that our mentors are under qualified. I, for one, don’t know anyone better qualified to work in the native community than native people (certainly not me with a doctorate). We also met the objection[MP2] that cycling is dangerous. However, with a drastically reduced life expectancy for Native American people with diabetes, I would argue that not cycling is far more dangerous. I understand that it can be hard for people a long way from where we are to understand our circumstances, but I also understand what it means to give someone their health and future back and I need help, and money, to keep doing that.
I'm looking for funding, but I’m also looking for ideas. If you have either of those, please get in touch. If you just have a few dollars, please help us out. We fall into the middle ground between research and philanthropy because we are doing a little of both and a lot of good. If we can raise enough to file papers a separate 501c3, we should be able to go from there to apply for bigger grants to grow the program and help more people. Anything is appreciated. I’d be forever indebted for your help. Thanks
Organizer
James Stout
Organizer
San Diego, CA
