Logistics pros pedal for a cause

Supply chain pros often debate the merits of shipping cargo by truck, ship, train, or plane. Next month, however, a group of logistics leaders will avail themselves of another mode of transport: the bicycle. On Oct. 15, a team of six experienced riders who are all employed by logistics companies will pedal 102.7 grueling miles through Death Valley, Calif., to raise money to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The fundraising tour was organized by Adrian Gonzalez, president of the consulting firm Adelante SCM and a well-known industry speaker and blogger. In 2011, Gonzalez's eldest daughter, Hannah, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), a chronic autoimmune disease that requires patients to closely monitor their blood sugar levels and use insulin to keep those levels in a healthy range, Gonzalez wrote in his "Talking Logistics" blog.

In response, Gonzalez organized a peloton of philanthropy-minded industry professionals to join "Logistics Leaders for T1D Cure," with the goal of raising $50,000 to benefit JDRF, a nonprofit organization focused on T1D research. Riders include employees from Descartes Systems Group, Elemica, LeanLogistics, and MercuryGate. If you'd like to support the cause, you can donate online.

Here's a video about JDRF: