PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Care New England and The American Diabetes Association^® (ADA) today announced that James E. Fanale, MD, Care New England Health System president and CEO, will chair the 2020 Ocean State Tour de Cure on Saturday, October 3, 2020, for the second year in a row. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will be held virtually, offering participants an opportunity to join the event wherever they are.

Every dollar raised through the Ocean State Tour de Cure plays an important role in supporting the ADA’s mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. This year, Care New England will serve as the lead community partner for the Tour event. CNE has made a commitment to the ADA to work together to raise awareness and provide much needed education in order to prevent and assist those in the community affected by diabetes in Southern New England.

Every 21 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes. In addition, nearly half of all American adults have either diabetes or prediabetes, which puts them at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes are at significant risk for serious complications including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, and lower-limb amputations. As the ADA’s premier fundraising event and one of the nation’s largest series of diabetes fundraising events, Tour de Cure brings together volunteers and participants invested in bending the curve on the diabetes epidemic and funding research to find a cure.

“Care New England cares about the community and everyone affected by, or at risk of developing diabetes. As this year’s virtual chair, I look forward to, once again, rallying our employees and all Rhode Islanders, to come together to educate the community about COVID-19 safety, diabetes management, and how to make behavioral and lifestyle adjustments to help fight diabetes,” said Dr. Fanale. “Diabetes affects many people on a personal, as well as a community level. Unfortunately, the prevalence of diabetes continues to grow, affecting more than 106,000 individuals here in Rhode Island. Another 200,000 are undiagnosed or living with prediabetes. Attention and action is necessary to help us advance the pace of progress in the fight against diabetes.”

The ADA’s New England Executive Director, Susan Sarro, thanked Dr. Fanale and Care New England for their continued commitment. “Support from community leaders such as Dr. Fanale make a critical difference in our efforts to engage the business community and other organizations in coming together behind the ADA mission. With CNE’s involvement as a leading health system, we can reach deeper into the community to address the needs of those who live with diabetes.”

Dr. Fanale and Care New England would like to invite Southern New England participants to join the celebration and be part of the movement to fight diabetes by taking part in Tour de Cure. This virtual fitness and community event will take place Saturday, October 3 to help raise funds to support the ADA’s mission. Registration is free with no fundraising minimums. Participants are encouraged to donate and raise funds to the extent they are able. Individuals can join the Care New England Team, called Team CNE, by visiting http://main.diabetes.org/goto/CareNewEngland.

About the American Diabetes Association

Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

About Care New England

Care New England was founded in 1996, and is the Providence, RI-based parent organization of Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, the VNA of Care New England, The Providence Center, CNE Wellness Center and Integra, a certified ACO created in collaboration with the Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corporation. Care New England includes 970 licensed beds and 216 infant bassinets. Through Butler, Memorial and Women & Infants, Care New England has a teaching and research affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Kent is a teaching affiliate of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.