Age: 12
Age at T1D diagnosis: 9

Baseball, basketball, Boy Scouts, spelling bees: Christian certainly knows how to keep himself busy! Receiving his T1D diagnosis at age 9, he has immersed himself in T1D advocacy and research, participating in clinical trials and attending awareness–raising events, such as the JDRF Walks. Yet Christian has already seen the darkest side of T1D, too. Diagnosed just six months after his sister died from the disease, Christian is profoundly aware of T1D’s potentially fatal complications. His father also lives with T1D. “I want others to not suffer what we have to go through. My dream for the future is for me and my dad to be diabetes–free, as well as everyone all over the world to have the same,” he says. “We are all important!”

READ CHRISTIAN’S LATEST NEWS:

Evansville boy battling type 1 diabetes returns from DC