There are many reasons it’s appropriate that the American Diabetes Association’s annual Tour de Cure fundraising event will be held in Suffolk this year.

The event, in which cyclists bike 10-, 30-, 65- or 100-mile courses through the city, takes advantage of what are widely considered some of the best, most scenic and safest roads for cycling around Hampton Roads. The Diabetes Association is counting on the popularity of those routes to be a big draw for bikers, who will each pay a $25 fee to participate and must raise at least $200 through pledges for donations. If the history of the past two years of Suffolk diabetes rides is a gauge, more than 900 riders can be expected to take the challenge.

Again judging from history, those riders will benefit from a high level of interest and participation from Suffolk volunteers, who will set up and operate water and safety stations, help keep the cyclists on course and give them a big send-off from and a warm welcome back to King’s Fork High School, the beginning and ending point of all the rides. The natural hospitality of the people of Suffolk makes the city a perfect host for the event, and the willingness of the city administration to provide resources to make the event fun and safe will provide a further boost to its success.

The appropriateness of Suffolk hosting this event also has a lot to do with the problem its residents have with diabetes. According to a 2013 report from the Healthy People Healthy Suffolk initiative of the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community, the diabetes rate of people in Western Tidewater — inclusive of Suffolk — was 8.6 percent, compared to the Virginia-wide rate of 7.6 percent. Holding the diabetes ride in Suffolk will help shine a light on this significant health problem.

The Tour de Cure, set for April 26, supports diabetes education and research, both of which can improve the lives of diabetic people in Suffolk and the surrounding areas.

To sign up to participate in the event or for more information, visit www.diabetes.org/hamptonroadsvatour or call 424-6662, extension 3276. You could help save a life and help improve the lives of others with diabetes, and you’re sure to have a good time in the process.