from The Daily Texan (full article link)

It does not take a star to bike for a cure. UT students do it every year.

The Tour de Cure, a bike ride from San Antonio to Austin, aims to raise money to cure diabetes – the fifth deadliest disease in America. UT kinesiology senior Kelly Blackstone does not have diabetes, but said she is invested in finding a cure and hopes other students are too. The ride is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, and parallels the Multiple Sclerosis 150, a bike ride from Houston to Austin.

The central Texas Tour de Cure is in its sixth year and raised $540,000 in 2007, said Chip Rayburn, Tour de Cure event chair. About 1,100 riders participated last year, but Rayburn said he is hopeful Blackstone’s involvement will attract more student participation. Blackstone is a student intern for the American Diabetes Association this semester.