John Ratzenberger Straddles a Hog to Raise Money for Diabetes Research
8 June 1998
Actor/Producer/Director John Ratzenberger Straddles a Hog From New York to Las Vegas to Raise Money for Diabetes Research
Ratzenberger Diabetes Research Fund,
American Diabetes Association and Harley-Davidson Cafe
Unite for the 1998 Harley-Davidson Cafe Big Ride for a Cure
NEW YORK, June 8 -- John Ratzenberger is going the extra mile
for diabetes research -- 3,000 miles, that is. This Father's Day, June 21,
John and other riders will mount Harley-Davidsons for the start of the 1998
Harley-Davidson Cafe Big Ride for a Cure, a cross-country motorcycle ride to
raise money for the Ratzenberger Diabetes Research Fund, Inc. and the American
Diabetes Association. Concurrently with the ride, the Ratzenberger Diabetes
Research Fund will launch an interactive web-site that will allow diabetes
researchers to share information, providing a tool for timely communication
and speeding the pace of research discovery.
The ride will kick off in New York City at the Harley-Davidson Cafe and
end on the fourth of July at the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson Cafe. Celebrities
from television, film and sports will join John at both the big send off party
and the end-of-the-ride celebration.
Sponsors of the ride include Harley-Davidson Cafe, Harley-Davidson,
Andersen Consulting, The American Diabetes Association, Fiddler's Bay,
Fleetwood Motor Homes, Hill and Knowlton, Ogilvy0ne, Promus Hotel Corporation,
Pitney Bowes, Seagram Americas, Shamrock Limousine, Creative Group Editorial,
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Poll Video, Bexel Video, Paul Mitchell, and WI for
Raymond Weil.
"Recently, researchers have told me that it is time to put aside egos,"
said Ratzenberger. "A cure for diabetes can be found if we all work together
and share information quickly. The Ratzenberger Diabetes Research Fund is
dedicated to the operation and maintenance of a web-site that will allow all
researchers working towards a cure for diabetes to talk to each other 24 hours
a day and share successes as well as failures. The 1998 Harley-Davidson Big
Ride for a Cure is our first big effort to raise money."
The father of a child with diabetes, John is passionate to find a cure for
the disease. His dedication and hard work have raised both dollars and
awareness for diabetes research. To date he has helped raise millions of
dollars for diabetes research.
During the 1998 Harley-Davidson Big Ride for a Cure, John will stop in New
York, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Dayton, Louisville, Nashville,
Memphis, Tulsa and Phoenix for fundraising events with local chapters of the
American Diabetes Association. All the proceeds will go toward the American
Diabetes Association and the Ratzenberger Diabetes Research Fund, Inc.
"Research is the road to the cure for diabetes, and the 1998 Harley-
Davidson Cafe Big Ride for a Cure will pave the way for increased access to
new and novel research," said Jane Camporcale, Chair-elect of the American
Diabetes Association. "John Ratzenberger's sincere efforts fit perfectly with
the mission of the American Diabetes Association."
The mission of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure
diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. As the
nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research,
information, and advocacy, the Association supports an office in every region
of the country, providing services to more than 800 communities. For
information about the American Diabetes Association, call 800-DIABETES or
visit their web-site at http://www.diabetes.org.
The Ratzenberger Diabetes Research fund, Inc. is dedicated to creating an
interactive web-site that will serve as a forum for diabetes researchers to
share information. Researchers will be able to share successes as well as
failures on a daily basis rather than waiting months or even years for
published findings. This will speed the pace of research discovery by
encouraging collaboration and sharing of pivotal information. The goal of the
Ratzenberger Diabetes Research Fund is to help find a cure for diabetes
through the operation and maintenance of the web-site. The passion is to help
find a cure, whatever it takes. For more information about the Ratzenberger
Diabetes Research Fund, call 818-712-0167 or visit their link to the American
Diabetes Association's web-site at http://www.diabetes.org after June 8.