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By Rachel Wartian

The Hampton Roads Tour de Cure and kids’ camp are going virtual this year.

The Tour de Cure is letting participants run, walk or ride the distance of their choice wherever they can for at least 30 minutes. The event is still scheduled for June 20 and will include live and pre-recorded videos of the regular events that go along with the tour.

“We want to have an opportunity to connect the participants and donors despite not being able to gather in person,” said Deanie Eldridge, executive director of the East Territory for the American Diabetes Association.

The video will start with a welcome from Anthony and Sheila Wilson, American Diabetes Association Leadership Board chairs and Karne Spencer, Tour executive chair and chief executive officer of Virginia Eye Consultants.

Other aspects of the welcome include emcee LeAnne Rains Benedetto, ADA Leadership Board, and a WAVY/FOX representative and the singing of the National Anthem. Mission movements, shout-outs, panel discussions, cooking demonstrations and more will happen throughout the day through live and pre-recorded videos.

Participants can post videos and pictures of their personal tours to the event Facebook page to be included in the ending celebration.

Along with the Tour, the ADA’s Imagine Camp is also going virtual. Imagine Camp is a free camp for kids ages 5 to 17 that has previously not been available in Virginia.

“Usually, the closest camp location is in Maryland or North Carolina,” said Eldridge. “This is a great opportunity for kids in Virginia to build friendships with other kids around the country through their diabetes.”

The camp will consist of two sessions that last four weeks. There will be a weekly video on YouTube for campers to watch with their families. Rob Howe of Diabetics Doing Things will host the speaker series.

Weekly challenges will occur between the cabins, including self-paced activities like sidewalk chalk, knot tying, and dance parties. Counselors will create videos each week for the weekly activity. Also, Zoom meetings will be held for cabin meetings so that campers can build lasting connections and get the feeling of camp.

“We like to look at the silver lining in this situation,” said Eldridge. “We plan to keep this virtual option to let the kids who normally could not go to camp still have the experience.”

Register for the Tour de Cure at www.diabetes.org/hrtdc and Imagine Camp at www.diabetes.org/imaginecamp.