Out Now: 2024 Annual Report

First, Lee Caswell rode in Tour de Cure with his company’s team—it seemed like “a fun event” for a casual cyclist. Then, he rode to support his wife Melissa, who developed type 2 diabetes as a result of pancreatic cancer.

Today, Lee rides in Melissa’s memory and to support the millions of Americans living with diabetes. “I became very invested in memorializing her and rallying people from my personal environment, my work environment, and the larger community,” he recalls. In a few short years, Lee has become one of the Tour de Cure: Northern California’s top fundraisers. He chaired the event in 2024, helping to relocate the ride from Sonoma to Silicon Valley and engage the many high-profile companies in the area. The event hosted nearly 1,000 riders, who raised more than $1 million.

Lee hopes his efforts will help find a cure for diabetes, raise awareness, and erase some of the stigma surrounding the disease: “Once you start talking about diabetes, you just find so many people have been impacted by it. So it’s really about channeling those connections into action. You can make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Paige Johnson, a longtime nurse and diabetes educator, turns to the ADA Institute of Learning for her own continuing education and to help the primary care professionals she works with feel more informed and comfortable about diabetes-related topics, such as CGM technology and automated insulin delivery systems.

 “I know that anything the ADA does is checked, double-checked, and triple-checked for accuracy. So I know I’m getting quality information.”

 —Paige Johnson, BSN, RN, CDCES Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, North Carolina

Craig Jackson’s mother, Gayle, always made sure her eight children got every shot and attended every checkup so they would grow up healthy. She wasn’t, however, so good at taking care of herself. That culminated in a massive stroke in her mid-50s—and, with it, a diagnosis of untreated type 2 diabetes. She relied on insulin and experienced a range of health problems for the rest of her life.

Craig always wondered: could that chapter of his mother’s story have been prevented? Determined to change this trajectory, he follows a healthy diet, stays active, and sees his doctor regularly. Wanting to expand his impact, he not only joined his colleagues for the ADA Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes—Indiana but chaired the 2024 event as well. The company Craig works for raised $126,405 for diabetes research, education, and advocacy, making them the first six-figure team in Step Out® Walk history.

Craig walks in memory of his mother and a brother who passed away, as well as for other family members with prediabetes and diabetes. Thanks to the dedication of supporters like him, Step Out continues to grow. “It’s a very uplifting and positive experience,” he said of the walk. “I want to drive awareness and provide the tools so people can better manage their life with this disease. And a cure would be the ultimate goal.”