Meet the core Ride4T1 team
For the Ride4T1 core cyclists, Jerry Gore, David Stimson and Henry Aspden, the 2,000 km ride is not about showing how extreme you can be with T1D. It is about showing that diabetes need not define the boundaries of your life - whether your ambition is to cycle across Britain or simply have the confidence to become a little more active.
Three very different people, one thing in common - all three live with Type 1 diabetes, all three love riding bikes, and all three want Ride4T1 to help other people with T1D discover that being active can be something to embrace rather than fear.
Jerry Gore, 65
Adventurer, T1D advocate and Ride4T1 founder
Jerry has spent much of his life challenging assumptions about what is possible. A former Royal Marines officer, professional mountaineer and endurance cyclist, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2001 and has since completed more than 20 years of insulin-dependent endurance and adventure challenges, from major mountain expeditions to long-distance cycling.
Since his diagnosis Jerry's mission is to change what people living with Type 1 diabetes believe is possible and help them build the confidence to become physically active and live fuller lives. Jerry co-founded Action4Diabetes, which supports impoverished children and young people living with T1D across seven countries in Southeast Asia. He is an IDF Blue Circle Champion, a Himalayan Mtn Guide, an entrepreneur with French/UK dual nationality, and is an Executive member of EXTOD (Exercise for Type 1 Diabetes).
For Jerry, Ride4T1 brings together these worlds of adventure, diabetes education and advocacy.
David Stimson
Ironman, designer, dad and adventurer
Dave describes himself first and foremost as a quiet family man, with an amazingly supportive wife and two boys of whom he is immensely proud. He runs his own graphic design business and is the creative talent behind much of the visual identity of Ride4T1 and the new EXTOD Exercise Confidence Guides.
Since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, however, this self-confessed coffee and wine lover has also completed full Ironman events, marathon swims, numerous triathlons and cycling journeys across Europe.
A qualified Swim England coach, dog owner, travel enthusiast, DIY dreamer and nostalgic 90s raver, Dave loves the simple pleasure of getting on a bike and exploring. He brings to Ride4T1 a wonderfully down-to-earth message: living actively with T1D doesn't have to be about records or proving anything - it can simply be about doing the things you love.
Henry Aspden
Cyclist, technologist and the data brain behind Ride4T1
Henry combines lived experience of Type 1 diabetes with a fascination for how technology and data can make managing it easier.
A keen cyclist himself, Henry is the founder of Enhance-d, Ride4T1's Technology & Data Partner, which focuses on helping people with diabetes make better use of their own health, glucose and activity data.
During Ride4T1, Henry brings the technology side of the story to life - exploring how CGMs, insulin delivery systems, exercise data and other digital tools can help people understand their individual responses to physical activity and build confidence.
But, like Jerry and Dave, Henry is not approaching Ride4T1 from a textbook. He will be managing his own T1D while riding, eating, recovering, camping and dealing with everything a 2,000 km journey through Britain throws at the team.
