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Best buddies ride for diabetes
9-year-old, 11-year-old join corporate biking team

by Emily Atwood

Last year, Pleasanton resident Harinder Grewal wanted to do something different before he turned 40. He heard about Team in Training sponsoring a 100-mile ride benefiting leukemia and lymphoma and said he knew biking was for him. It wasn't about a new hobby, he said, but it was about doing something significant.

Little did he know that the same inspiration would trickle down to his daughter.

Nine-year-old Saira Grewel was "bit by the biking bug" after seeing her dad participate in the 100-mile ride. She watched her dad train with long rides on the weekends and was there to cheer him on as he completed the long trek.

Even without the excitement of the event, when the weekend came Saira would join him on long-distance rides.

"When my company (Solectron in Milpitas) approached me about getting involved in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure, the kids were excited as well," Hardiner Grewel said.

For Saira and her sister, Nisha, 11, this is their first fundraising ride. They join the Solectron crew of about 30 to cruise the mostly flat terrain 30-mile course. The ride takes place June 10 in Palo Alto and raises money for diabetes research and awareness.

It was this cause that inspired Saira. Her fourth-grade classmate Ashna Jasuja has had diabetes since she was 1 year old. Every day when they eat lunch together, Ashna must test her blood sugar before and after she eats. So Saira decided she would ride in Ashna's honor.

"I feel bad for her," Saira said, "and I hope that researchers can find a cure."

Ashna's mom said she was beaming when she heard that Saira was riding in her honor. She was so touched, in fact, that she decided to join in. While she has participated in a juvenile foundation diabetes walk, this is Ashna's first bike ride for the cause.

Since Saira has been training for about two months and Ashna only recently started, the two decided to aim for completing 15 miles, which would equate to about two hours of riding.

To sponsor Harinder, Saira or Ashna, visit tour.diabetes.org click sponsor a rider and enter the name of the rider you wish to sponsor.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on May 30, 2007 at 6:17 pm

Ashna goes to my tennis and she is a great kid, I am glad people are making an effort to find a cure!