Melissa W. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
I’ve been a fan of Team Type 1 for several years. When VSP became the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Team Type 1 and Team Type 2, I was excited that I would be able to work with the athletes.
My first opportunity to work with them would be the Race Across America (RAAM). As I started preparing for the start of RAAM, I created a blog for Team Type 1 Jeff Bannink’s daily blog entry, and I put together a Where in the World contest where participants could enter to win the same pair of Nike sunglasses worn by Team Type 1 and 2 athletes. As I was adding the athletes’ bios to our blog, reading about their enthusiasm made me wish I could be part of such a grand endeavor. And then, the phone rang.
It was Peter Cowley with Team Type 2. He needed prescription cycling glasses, and he needed them fast. Peter’s eye doctor is in Milwaukee, but Peter was headed to California for the start of the race. It was a very tight timeframe. The cycling glasses required a unique cut for the wrap feature and a special coating for the lenses. I told Peter I would work with his eye doctor and do my best to get the prescription sunglasses delivered to his hotel in California.
I first called the VSP lab closest to Peter’s doctor. They wanted to help but didn’t physically have the frame at their location, so they put me in contact with the VSP lab in Sacramento. The Sacramento lab offered to drive to our headquarters and pick up the sunglasses if we had a pair on campus. Now all I had to do was locate the exact frame that Peter had. Fortunately, our Sales department had a pair and loaned them to me. The lab immediately started working on the order. They would have to overnight the frames to southern California for the special coating, but they assured me everyone was doing everything possible to get the glasses to Peter in time for the race. I was very happy when I received the call that the glasses would be delivered on time. Peter not only received the prescription clear lenses for his Nike sunglasses, but he also received prescription dark lenses.
The day before the race, my new clear lenses for night riding were here, along with a pair of sunglasses. I think these will be a huge advantage when I’m riding at night,” said Peter Cowley.
Through teamwork and collaboration, I was excited to be part of RAAM history, even if only in a small way.
As the race finally began, I watched as Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 showed determination and commitment to show the world that people who have diabetes can do anything. I was thrilled to see that Team Type 1 placed first, and Team Type 2 successfully completed the race. And, I was also happy to see Peter wearing his glasses.
Congratulations to both Team Type 1 and Team Type 2! You’re an inspiration to us all.
http://vspactive.com/2009/06/22/tt2s-peter-cowley-gets-his-glasses-in-the-nick-of-time/
Team Type 2 officially finished Race Across America (RAAM) in 7 days, 15 hours, and 8 minutes. They began their 3,005-mile journey in Oceanside, California June 12 and crossed the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland June 20, in hopes to inspire others living with diabetes, to achieve their dreams. 
