Ronan woman will enter 117-mile bike race to support diabetes research

When Anna Marie Leafty bikes more than 100 miles this summer, her daughter will be on her mind the entire way.

Leafty plans on riding her bike 117 miles through mountain roads in a race to benefit diabetes research this summer. Her daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Leafty, who was diagnosed with diabetes, is her inspiration for going the distance.

“The money raised by this race, Ride For the Cure, goes toward finding a cure for juvenile diabetes, research and education,” Leafty said.

Leafty has seen the pain that diabetes can inflict on Catherine, and that motivated her to enter the race.

“My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of nine. She is now 13. Type 1 is the most severe form of the disease, and we’ve had a whole new life dealing with it,” she said.

And while Leafty is pushing her body to its limits to finish the race she will be thinking of her daughter and her struggle.

“I’m riding in the race in honor of my daughter,” she said. “She is my inspiration.”

Leafty is also riding in the race to help others, she says, because so many people helped her family in a time of need.

“We needed money to get an insulin pump for my daughter to lessen the amount of injections she needed. She had seven injections a day and after we got the pump it went to one every three days,” she said. “I’m grateful for the community for that. It was two years ago that a car wash was held by the community to raise the $3,000 that was needed to get the pump.”

But, before Leafty can race she has to raise the $3,000 that she has pledged before the August deadline.

“I’ve got $250 so far and I’m going to just keep working for it,” she said. Leafty is soliciting as much as she can to get the donations.

“I’m hitting up personal friends and anyone I know,” she said.

The good thing about this particular race, Leafty noted, is that most of the money goes towards the cause.

“A lot of fundraisers only donate half of the money raised to the cause but this one puts in 86 percent. The other percent goes to pay expenses,” she said.

Leafty isn’t new to racing or a challenge.

“I’m a tri-athlete and a mom. I’ve done several swim, run and bike races. And I have six kids. I like challenge,” she said.

And hopefully that training will pay off. “It will take a full day to ride the 117-miles,” Leafty said. “My goal is to finish. I’m just going to ride 20 miles at a time, stop and stretch, drink water and get back on until I’m finished.”

Donations to help Leafty reach her pledge goal can be sent to 15 7th Ave., NW, Ronan, MT, 59864, or she can be contacted at 676-8215 or 207-2531.

“Contributions are tax deductible,” she said.