10-12-2007 - American Diabetes Association Honors UI Cycling Team

NEWS RELEASE

Oct. 12, 2007

Media Contact: Ed Crowder: (203) 499-2537

After Hours: (203) 499-2812 

UI Cyclists Honored as Top Team

The American Diabetes Association recently honored 19 bicyclists representing The United Illuminating Company, who raised more than $30,000 to find a cure for the debilitating disease.

Team UI was named top team in the 2007 Tour de Cure cycling event, sponsored by the ADA’s Connecticut/Western Massachusetts office. The cyclists, including 13 employees and six friends and family members, rode routes ranging from 25 kilometers to 100 miles in the June 2 event. This marks the eighth consecutive year UI has participated in the Tour.

The ADA’s Jim MacFarlane visited UI recently to present a plaque of appreciation to participants.

“Thanks to all who participated in the 2007 Tour de Cure,” MacFarlane said. “I am really pleased that we exceeded last year’s contributions and were once again the No. 1 fund-raising team,” said Joseph Thomas, UI’s vice president for client fulfillment and Team UI captain.

The Team UI participants were:

·         Brian Beckwith of South Windsor

·         Christian Bilcheck and his son, Nicholas Bilcheck (Tour de Youth Ambassador)*, of Milford

·         Tony Buccheri, Chuck Eves and Chris Goggin of Wallingford

·         Cliff Cronan and Ronny Denny* of West Haven

·         George Davenport of Hamden

·         Brian Horgan of Cheshire

·         Ron Rossetti of Seymour

·         Joseph Thomas of North Branford

·         Karen Torrenti of Chester

·         Balint Toth and his wife, Zita Toth*, of Orange

·         Curtiss Wakefield and his son, Jake Wakefield*, of Guilford

·         Wakefield’s nephew, Chris Leland*, of New Haven

·         Tim Schulken* of West Hartford

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood sugar to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy.  Nearly 21 million U.S. children and adults have diabetes.  It is the fifth deadliest disease in the United States and it has no cure.

The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a New Haven-based regional distribution utility established in 1899.  UI is engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and related services to more than 320,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. UI’s World Wide Web address is http://www.uinet.com/.  UI’s parent company, UIL Holdings Corporation, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UIL.