Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 9

Award–winning advocate Ashley has earned honors from the Pediatric Diabetes Program at Winthrop University for her “tireless effort and support of children with type 1 diabetes,” and she has also received the coveted JDRF Green Jersey award at the 2013 JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes in Tucson. “I wore the jersey proudly on Ride Day,” she shares. Ashley has completed two JDRF Rides, has delivered a speech as a top fundraiser, and continues to participate in JDRF Walks. Ashley also loves traveling (she visited seven European countries last summer!), plays varsity soccer and lacrosse, and runs varsity track. “I have never let this disease stop me from doing anything,” she says. She is attending JDRF Children’s Congress to take “the opportunity to urge the nation’s lawmakers to continue funding life–changing T1D research.”

READ ASHELY’S LATEST NEWS:

Port Washington teen invited to juvenile diabetes conference in Washington