Razor Crusaders riding 380 miles for diabetes awareness


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PROVO — There's a good chance Marcus Hensley has no idea how many times he has pushed off on his scooter.

But he does know every time he does it means something.

Hensley is one of nearly 30 members of Razor Crusaders, a group doing something they say no one has ever done before. They are riding razor-style scooters — more than 380 miles relay style on back roads — from St. George to Kaysville.

"It’s been about 38 hours, continuous, back-to-back. We’re just a group of guys going to have some fun,” Hensley said.

Some people called them crazy.

"It's difficult. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I was on a scooter,” group memeber P.J. Christensen said.

Some drivers sharing the road with them called them something other than crazy.

"We got a few mean gestures, you know, but I think overall we got a lot of support from the communities we were going through,” said group member Matthew Benson.

Those mean gestures are probably because those drivers had no idea the Razor Crusaders are doing this to fight a villain named diabetes.

"Just because you're a Type I diabetic, or you have Type II diabetes, you're not limited. You can still do everything else your friends can do,” said Connor Moody, a co-founder of Razor Crusaders.

Moody, like many of these riders, has diabetes.

Razor Crusaders riding 380 miles for diabetes awareness
Photo: Courtesy Razor Crusaders

"Life is not fair, but I think if we put our effort into it, we can do anything anybody else can," Benson said.

“I’m a diabetic, so of course I was going to be here with a bunch of my buddies to support this cause,” said P.J. Christensen.

The group has gotten closer and in ways they didn't quite anticipate.

Their van doesn't have air conditioning, and Beson said they know everything about each other, even each other's smells.

"Yeah, we don't have it. We're non-profit. We can't afford the air conditioning,” Moody joked.

Razor Crusaders did a smaller ride from Provo to Kaysville five years ago, raising $2,000 for diabetes research. This year they've raised $30,000.

However, one of the guys who started this group couldn’t be on this ride. Clayton Jenkins, who had diabetes, died two years ago. So this ride is also to honor him.

"It means a lot, especially to my parents and family members,” said Jamie Jenkins, Clayton’s twin sister. She’s also riding in this relay.

It's reminder diabetes is very real.

The group hopes one day their efforts will help make sure diabetes will never hurt anyone again.

"It might get hot, it might be raining, but in the end it's for a good cause and that's why we're doing it,” Moody said.

Razor Crusaders is planning to make it to Davis High School in Kaysville Saturday by 4 p.m. There will be a party where the public is invited to learn about diabetes and how anyone can help make a difference.

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