Peter Perla of West Windsor is riding in the Princeton Tour de Cure on Sunday, June 9, a bike ride organized by the American Diabetes Association to raise awareness and funds to help with treatment, research, and a cure for diabetes. “All of us know someone who suffers with diabetes,” says Perla. “Battling this horrible disease can wreak havoc on the body and, in some cases, cause blindness, the loss of limbs, and death.”
This is his fourth year riding and his third year as the executive chair. Perla had just accepted the position of executive chair when he received an E-mail from his friend, Elaine Dubec, telling him that her son, Austin, had just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. “As is the case with so many families when this happens, the Dubec family was devastated,” says Perla. “Austin’s diagnosis came out of nowhere.”
Perla has dedicated his ride to Austin for the past three years. “Austin’s mother tells me that I inspire her son — that it made him feel like he was not alone in this fight,” says Perla. “I tell her that Austin is my inspiration.”
Perla was born in Morristown and raised in Livingston and Chatham. He received a bachelor’s in English from the University of Delaware and graduated from Western New England School of Law. He practices labor and employment law.
He moved to West Windsor in 2002. “I chose West Windsor because I loved the farms, the people, and the proximity to my job,” he says. His son, John, 9, attends WW-P schools.
Perla’s extensive volunteer experience includes volunteering in the emergency department at University Medical Center of Princeton, a volunteer firefighter for six years, coaching Little League baseball, serving on the Advisory Committee for School Safety, and co-founder of WWP-Parents for Safer Schools.
For information on the ride or to donate E-mail peter.perla@comcast.net. “More riders mean more awareness and more money raised,” he says. “Each mile I ride, the funds I raise will be used in the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.”
Perla wears a pin with Austin’s picture around his neck in hopes of raising more money for his goal of $6,000 this year. “I am going to keep pounding the pavement to find additional funds because I simply don’t want to let Austin down,” he says.
Tour de Cure, American Diabetes Association, Educational Testing Service, Lawrenceville. Sunday, June 9, 6 a.m. Cycle your way through Mercer County on a 10, 30, 62.3, or 100 mile route. Food, music, and more at the finish line. Register. $25 with a $200 fundraising minimum. Register. 888-Diabetes. www.diabetes.org.
