The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes for Jack Bonn momentarily stopped his parents Gregg and Heidi Rheingold-Bonn in their tracks. And as the energy of any process would have it, it’s become a journey — at times, even an adventure.

A new adventure started hatching when Coach Alex Sachs met Jack and his parents at summer camp, where she coached kids as part of her Itty Bitty Sports program. To support Jack, Alex walked with Jack’s team, called Jack’s Pack, in the 2009 JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk to Cure Diabetes.

After that, Alex decided she wanted to do more.

Mind you, Alex is a big thinker. She’s also a world-class athlete, having won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympic Games with the Brazilian women’s soccer team and a gold medal in the 2007 Pan American Games. So what does doing more mean to her? This summer, Alex is going to bike across America to raise money for the JDRF.

Alex is calling her ride Kickin’ and Crankin’ for Kids and a Cure. In August 2010, she’ll begin in San Diego, California and pedal across the country to Atlantic City, New Jersey. She’ll ride 8-10 hours a day for 45 days, traveling 3,500 miles from start to finish. Along the way, she’ll teach Soccersize (soccer + exercise) classes to youth and their families to promote health and fitness education and raise awareness about type 1 diabetes.

“A lot was given to me and I feel a responsibility to give back,” says Alex. “I’m committed to offering a program that’s engaging, interactive and fun — both on the fields and on the courts. I want kids to take a break from their video games and join their families. I want them to come out to run, jump and play with other kids — family style,” adds Coach Alex, who believes that education about type 1 diabetes and the integration of fitness is a critical first step toward a healthier community of children and their families.

To keep expenses down, Alex will camp overnight at the local Jewish Community Centers (JCC) across her route.

Sachs has taught fitness, tennis and soccer at various Jewish Community Center locations throughout Arizona since 2003. The JCC has invited Alex to stay overnight at their facilities through her ride. Her stops at local JCCs will give her the opportunity to promote fitness across the country. After biking all day, the JCC will invite youth to attend Coach Alex’s Soccercize class.

“I’ll teach the kids and their families about type 1 diabetes. By the time my ride is over, I’ll have stopped at more than 10 JCC community centers to work with children and their families,” says Alex.

Proceeds from the Kickin’ and Crankin’ tour will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

 For more information, follow Coach Alex at

www.kickinandcrankin.org

 For more info on JDRF, call               602-224-1800         602-224-1800 or visit

www.jdrf.org