Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 6

Katie and her family, along with other local families, instituted JDRF Walks in their community of Hilton Head in 2013. “It has paid off,” she says. “In addition to raising a lot of money, we have reached so many more people to explain what type 1 diabetes is and how difficult it is to manage.” In addition to her outreach efforts, Katie enjoys playing competitively in tennis tournaments. She is attending JDRF Children’s Congress to push for new advances in T1D care. “Every little piece of technology that is developed and research that is being done helps, and gives me hope for the future,” says Katie. “The research that the doctors are doing is incredible and life–changing for so many people. It could change my life too.”