As the premier sponsor of this year’s Hampton Roads Tour de Cure, Bon Secours In Motion Sports Performance is going all out to support the ride.

“It’s part of our community outreach,” said Justin Ferrell, business development coordinator. “We like to get our mission out there and provide the avenues of care that people may be looking for.”

The cycling fundraiser supports the American Diabetes Association, which uses the money for education, research and advocacy. Set for April 25, it features routes of 10, 25, 65 and 100 miles, all beginning and ending at King’s Fork High School.

Ferrell said Bon Secours In Motion Sports Performance focuses not only on improving athletes’ performance but also on rehabilitation and nutrition. The nutrition component in particular has a lot to do with diabetes, Ferrell said.

“We help patients recognize the disease and what comes along with it,” Ferrell said. “There’s ways to take care of it and ways to be healthy and do what you want to do.”

Ferrell said Bon Secours In Motion and other health care providers are trying to move from helping people manage diabetes toward helping them prevent getting it in the first place.

“We do our best to move toward the front of diabetes in the area,” he said. “We want to eventually find a cure for it.”

In addition to being the premier sponsor, Bon Secours will have a health care team on site the day of the ride to assist with any injuries or illnesses that affect riders or volunteers. It did so two years ago as well.

“There’s a wide variety of things” that occur at the ride, Ferrell said. Cramps and injuries from falls are common.

“If it’s really hot and people are out there pushing it, unfortunately sometimes we’ll get heat-related illnesses that we have to deal with,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell will be at the ride himself, volunteering in the medical tents. The tents also give out snacks approved by dietitians for diabetics and non-diabetics alike to help them power through their ride.

The Harbour View location of Bon Secours In Motion Sports Performance is looking forward to the ride, Ferrell said. A team from the entire Bon Secours system usually participates as riders, he added.

To participate in the Tour de Cure, there is a $25 registration fee and a $200 fundraising minimum. The fundraising goal is $450,000, and so far about $175,000 has been raised.

For more information about the Tour de Cure, visit www.diabetes.org/hamptonroadsvatour.