There will be a group of red-clade bicyclists, known as the Red Riders, cruising through Marymoor Park Saturday, May 12 as part of the American Diabetes Association’s annual Tour de Cure cycling event.

Red Riders are people with diabetes who are raising awareness of diabetes and raising money to stop diabetes by participating in American Diabetes Association-sponsored cycling events across the country.

“I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2008, and re-discovered my passion for cycling,” said Ashok Kuruganti, captain of the Red Riders. “Staying active and eating healthy has kept me off medication and within non-diabetic range for four years so far. … For me the Tour de Cure is a great way to satisfy my two greatest passions: making a difference in the community and cycling.”

Kuruganti, an executive with ServiceMax, also participated recently in the Executive Ride for the Tour de Cure, co-chaired by Detlef Schrempf, former Seattle Supersonics and University of Washington Husky basketball star and Gordy Prouty, publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Today, there are nearly 26 million Americans — including 400,000 people Washington state — who have diabetes. While an estimated 18.8 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7 million people are unaware that they have the disease. If current trends continue, one in three Americans adults will have diabetes by 2050.

To register to become a Red Rider, call the American Diabetes Association t 1‑888-DIABETES or visit www.diabetes.org/seattletourdecure.