The American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure will return to Suffolk this year following a successful move to the city last year.

Set for April 20, the cycling event will take hundreds of riders on looped courses throughout the city, ranging from a relaxing 10-mile jaunt to a challenging 100-mile excursion.

“Tour is a cycling event, but it’s a little bit more than that,” said Amie Holman, Hampton Roads Tour de Cure coordinator. “For some riders, it’s a life-changing event. Sometimes, it’s a wake-up call for those who are in a pre-diabetic state, or maybe they live with diabetes and haven’t made lifestyle changes.”

The event is coming back to Suffolk after overwhelming praise last year for the beautiful rural routes, volunteer and community support. The event previously looped through parts of Chesapeake and North Carolina.

While raising funds for diabetes research is the main goal of the event, you don’t have to have diabetes to join in. A $25 registration fee, $175 fundraising minimum and a helmet are all that are required to ride the day of the event, Holman said.

The ride has benefits for everyone — raising awareness of diabetes, supporting diabetics and getting everyone active, Holman said.

“Anybody can do this, whether you’re in a T-shirt on a beach cruiser on the 10-mile or in Spandex taking on the 100-mile,” she said.

Participants can create teams or join “Team Red,” a team for everyone who doesn’t already have a team. Riders raise money in the months leading up to the ride to meet the fundraising minimum.

Riders can use the Tour de Cure website to create a personal page with their story and email it to friends and family to request support.

For those who prefer a behind-the-scenes role, numerous volunteer opportunities are available. Greeters, rest stop support, supply coordinators, finish-line cheerleaders and more are needed.

The ride will begin and end at King’s Fork High School and also includes 30- and 65-mile options.

For more information or to register, visit www.diabetes.org/hamptonroadsvatour.