A local fundraiser rumbles its way through Albany by going past landmarks to raise money for a charity the organizer started after he found out his son had type I diabetes.
The fifth annual A-Town Rumble, hosted by the Capital District Farmers Market, will kick off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Menands Farmers Market.
When Chuck Price found out his son had type I diabetes five years ago, he wanted to raise money for research to help other people.
“We got a group of guys together when we first started thinking things up and wanted come up with a different angle to raise money. We wanted to do something different because there are a lot of 5K’s and walks, so we decided on a rally,” said Chuck Price.
The rally welcomes motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and three-wheeled vehicles. It takes a leisurely cruise through Albany, sticking to roads where the speed limit is 30 MPH. A-Town stands for Albany.
“We put together a run that starts at Menands Farmers Market and runs through downtown Albany, the Times Union Center, up Madison Avenue, through Washington Park and the Albany Rural Cemetery. One of the favorite parts of the trip is in the cemetery where we go to Chester Arthur’s gravesite,” said Price.
“It’s a one hour ride. We get a combo of scooters, mopeds and motorcycles. Vehicles of like size ride in the same group so everyone can hang together,” said Price.
Type I diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. According to the American Diabetes Association, only about five percent of people diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with type I. In this particular type of diabetes, the body does not produce insulin.
In a statement, Price said, “My son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age eight. This disease requires constant monitoring, and regular visits to a pediatric endocrinologist. The more we learn, the better the chance to fight and cure this disease.”
Price said researchers are currently working on a “smart pump” that acts as a pancreas to regulate insulin levels, and money donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation could help further research on the pump, which could help others.
“It’s important to me to make sure all people with type one live as normal lives as they possibly can, and if this helps that’s great,” said Price.
Price is looking to increase the number of riders this year to help the cause and is hoping a growing interest in the scooter community will help. With 14 separate scooter clubs listed in the area in Scooter Rider Magazine, there is hope it will grow.
“Generally we get about 50 riders. We’re expecting about the same this year. As far as we can tell, it’s the largest scooter event in upstate New York. Capital District Scooter and Moped Club began as a result of this event,” said Price.
The difference between a motorcycle moped and scooter is mainly in engine size. A motorized bike under 50cc is a moped, and anything over that is a scooter or motorcycle. Price said that the cost of gas is driving more people to look at mopeds because they can go a lot farther on a small amount of gas.
Albert Lansing, owner of the Menands Farmers Market, hopes more people will take advantage of all the space the market offers.
“It’s good for the community, they’re good for the community, you got to give back and you have to be part of the community. I think it’s a great event, and I hope more people use the facility,” said Albert Lansing.
Last year the rally raised $5,000, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. While registration is open the day of the rally, event shirts are only open for those that sign up for a shirt and pre-register. More information can be found at scooterridermag.com