The Hampton Roads Tour de Cure is nearly here, and Dr. Maggie Morris Fears recently joined hundreds of others to advocate for diabetics in the nation’s capital while other riders trained for the April event.

The American Diabetes Association’s “Call to Congress” brought nearly 200 advocates to Washington, D.C., March 21-23. They met with elected officials to argue for more research funding and shared their personal experiences with the disease.

“They were all very receptive to supporting diabetes research and increasing the (National Institute of Health) budget,” Morris Fears said in the phone interview. “They were definitely concerned with the impact diabetes can have on our economy, especially on their constituents in Western Tidewater and South Hampton Roads, where it’s such a huge issue.”

Morris Fears is an associate professor and diabetes researcher at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She also serves on the ADA’s local leadership board.

She started in the field of diabetes research and medicine in 2003. A graduate school friend of hers is a Type 1 diabetic, and that friend’s daughter was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Morris Fears said. Several of her family members have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes since she graduated.

“Friends of mine are dealing with this every day, and from my perspective, we as researchers could address some of their health concerns and maybe cure Type 1 or 2 diabetes eventually,” she said.

She’s come to understand that living with diabetes is like a never-ending puzzle.

“It’s like you’re given a set of building blocks and you have to stack them up every two hours, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” she said. “I think about that during my research. Maybe I can discover something that will take away some of that burden.”

Morris Fears and her 10-year-old daughter, Caitlin, will take on the 30-mile route in the doctor’s fifth-ever Tour this April.

“You come out, get involved and meet some of the Red Riders and Striders,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn each other’s stories and really understand the impact of diabetes.”

The 2018 Hampton Roads Tour de Cure will take place on April 28, beginning and ending at the Suffolk Executive Airport. The route options are 12, 30, 63 and 100 miles. There will also be a 5K run and walk for those that don’t wish to ride.

There is a $30 registration fee and a $200 fundraising minimum. The registration fee will go up to $35 on Tour day. The fundraising goal is $450,000, and approximately $307,886 has been raised as of Friday.

Visit diabetes.org/hrtdc or call 424-6662 ext. 3269 for more information.