MADISON, Wis. -- A local doctor is putting his best pedal forward to raise money for the very kids he treats every day.

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"You have an emotional response to your patients," said Dr. Robert Matthew. "Then you just follow your heart."

His heart led him on a 100-plus-mile bike ride through the Appalachian Mountains to raise money for juvenile diabetes research.

"Kids are tough," said Matthew. "They can deal with adversity better than adults, but I see the looks on their parents' faces. They know what's going on."

Many of Matthew's patients are diabetic and most are young, like 3-year-old Maddie Montgomery.

Montgomery has Type 1 diabetes and is one of the biggest inspirations for Matthew.

"It's a natural extension of desire to connect to people," he said. "It doesn't make you a saint, but it's a great opportunity to help out."

The bike ride raised more than $600,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Madisonians can get involved helping both juvenile and adult diabetes on Dec. 18 when local American Diabetes Association volunteers will be wrapping gifts for a small donation at East Towne Mall.