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Lovette Griffith - PR Officer, Belize Diabetes Assoc.
"The purpose of the ride is to create awareness. 6 years ago we pitched the idea to Mr. Ordonez, he was more than enthused, he got the different cycling clubs to be interested, but what we found too is that persons living with the condition whom rode just for exercise wanted to become a part of it, so we put it together and we worked with the different clubs and what we have 6 years later is an annual event - one of our biggest event."

Tichele Solis - First Time Rider
"I and my sister decided to come out because we have our aunt Barbara that passed away 2 years ago and she had diabetes and we also have someone very dear to us, Nurse Kelly, she also have diabetes. We just wanted to come out and show our support to them. We always said that we wanted to do more and this just seem like an awesome experience."

Denys Barrow, SC - Riding For 4 Years
"It was lovely. The Diabetes Association always organizes an excellent ride and the cause of course is a great one. The comradeship, the colorfulness of riding with these cyclist is an uplifting exhilarating experience."

Karen Rosito - Nutritionist, Rode In All 6 Rides
"I support the ride because I am a nutritionist and I am a wellness coordinator at BTL and every single year BTL literally has the biggest contingent in this ride and it's not like we don't have a lot of work to do, but it is that important for us to get out our beds at 2 to be up there for 6 o' clock."

Joel Torres - Participant, Living With Diabetes
"I think healthy, like what the jersey said earlier. I am a diabetic for over 20 years, but you wouldn't believe that because I am going to be 53 years old soon and riding is my way of battling that disease and also as you can see a lot of friends of mine, my team mates, they ride this ride because of healthy choices."

Anthony Castillo - President, Belize Diabetes Association
"I always say to folks that if I knew then what I know now, I think things would have been different for me. Developing diabetes can be hereditary and it's also a lifestyle condition. The way you eat, the way you drink and the way you consume food, the lack of exercise, for us in this region and in Belize we are loaded up on carbohydrates, on sweets - they always say Belizeans have a sweet tooth. Unfortunately we not always eat a balance diet and these are conditions that enhance the development of diabetes and also the exercise; not everyone can the time to exercise and some folks they are even reluctant to exercise."

Denys Barrow, SC - Riding For 4 Years
"The benefit for me of cycling is immeasurable. I have every confidence that it gives me the ability to keep a calm mind. I have every certainty that it keeps me healthy, in terms of cardiovascular fitness and I think in terms of general overall fitness, so I am extremely grateful to the cycling community and to cycling as a sport and as a recreational sport for all the benefits it has produced to me."

That was Saturday - day one of the ride.

It is the 6th annual Diabetes Ride. For the two day event participants ride 85 miles from Corozal to Belize on Saturday, and 67 miles from San Ignacio to Belize on Sunday.

The participants were all required a 25 dollar fee, which goes to the Association.