Greetings - from Coach Alex Sachs

Follow Coach Alex’s bike route as she routs out Juvenile Diabetes!

Coach Alex Sachs

Hi, I’m Alex Sachs. My kids and their parents call me “Coach Alex” and I’ve dedicated my life to fitness for kids. Following my career as an Olympic athlete and after I earned my master’s degree in sports psychology, I created the Itty Bitty Sports program to keep kids active, fit and having fun.

This past summer Jack joined one of my Itty Bitty Sports camps. Jack has Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes and has to juggle his food intake, exercise and insulin through a series of complicated formulas. I believe in legacy work — that our actions have long-term consequences with a rippling effect — so after walking for “Jack’s Pack” this past fall, I decided to “go a little bit farther” and bike across country on his behalf and all the other youth who battle juvenile diabetes.

The money I raise through your support will go to research to help find a cure for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes.

Throughout the years I have worked with kids and their families, I’ve discovered a lot of inspiration and a few ideas go along way. This effort and a bunch of us pitching in will raise awareness across the country and inspire hundreds of kids and their families to play together and get and stay healthy and active.

Bringing Families Together

When I was very young, about five years old, I took up soccer in my native Brazil. In 2004 as a member of the Corinthians/Rivelino, me and my Brazilian teammates earned a silver medal in the Athens Olympic Games. A year later, I was inducted into the Brazilian Football Hall of Fame. In 2007, my team won a gold medal in the Pan American Games. I have trained as an athlete all my life. Today, I use my fitness skills to teach Soccercize — soccer + exercise — to youth and their families so they develop fitness techniques through to stay active.

A lot was given to me and I feel a responsibility to give back. I’m committed to offering a program that’s engaging, interactive and fun both on the fields and on the courts. I want kids to take a break from exercising their little fingers on video games and come out to run, jump and play with other kids.

Itty Bitty Goes A Little Bit Farther

So, here’s my plan. I’ll leave San Diego in April 2011 and ride cross country to New Jersey. The trip will cover 3,000+ miles. I’ll ride a total of 8 -1 0 hours a day to cover 80 - 100 miles per day over a 45-day course. The trip will cost approximately $10,000. To keep expenses down, I’ll camp overnight at the local Jewish Community Centers (JCC) across my route.

I have taught fitness, tennis and soccer at the various JCC locations throughout Scottsdale since 2003. JCC has invited me to stay overnight at their facilities through my ride. There will be at least two support people accompanying me through the trip. My stops at local JCCs give me another opportunity to promote fitness across the country. After biking a few hours a day, the JCC will invite youth to attend my Soccercize class. I’ll teach the kids and their families about juvenile diabetes. By the time my ride is over, I’ll have stopped more than 10 JCC community centers to work with children and each child will get a T-shirt and cap.

Just one of the opportunities as a sponsor of Kickin' & Crankin' For Kids & A Cure - your name can go on my equipment or on the T-shirts and caps I’ll be distributing to children across America!

Along the route, youth, athletes and local community members will have the opportunity to ride with me, join us for Kickin' & Crankin' For Kids & A Cure and leave your own legacy.