Rodney has known diabetes all his life, as he was diagnosed at just 22 months old. His mother, a nurse, suspected he had diabetes, and she was right. But eight years later, their son's zeal for life has become their inspiration.


Rodney has known diabetes all his life, as he was diagnosed at just 22 months old. His mother, a nurse, suspected he had diabetes, and she was right. But eight years later, their son's zeal for life has become their inspiration. Rodney is an Honor Roll student and enjoys playing basketball and football. He aspires to be a philanthropist and even President of the United States, in order to help people and ensure equal rights for all. Rodney is a Youth Ambassador for JDRF's Indiana State Chapter, and has appeared in fundraising photo shoots and infomercials. He also helped host a fundraising walk at his school, and for the past five years has participated in the Walk to Cure Diabetes with his family's team, "Rodney's Rockets." Rodney says, "I hope to…meet with Congress and the President and to share with them how diabetes has impacted my life."

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JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our strength lies in our exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D.