Welcome to the 2018 JDRF One Walk Team Spotlights, a series dedicated to celebrating the most important part of JDRF One Walk – YOU! Registration for the Allentown Walk is now open, and fundraising is well underway. All the hard work culminates in a day of fun at the PPL Center on Sunday, October 7, 2018!

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Meet the adorable Hunter Beidler of Team Hunter, a fantastic family team with JDRF One Walk Allentown. Hunter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) less than a year ago. Always with a smile, happy Hunter is very lucky to have family members determined to help him any way they can – including getting involved with JDRF.

Read more below to find out what JDRF means to the Beidler family, as told by Hunter’s grandparents, Wendy and Brian.

What is your T1D connection?

Our grandson, Hunter, was diagnosed at 14 months. He just turned two in February. Hunter is the only one in our family with T1D.

Tell us about your loved one living with T1D.

Hunter is our first grandchild. He was diagnosed in May of 2017. It was a very scary day. He was in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for four days. Hunter has some ups and downs, but he always has a smile. He seems to have a great sense of humor, and it makes being around him joyful!

 

 

Why did you decide to get involved with JDRF?

We want to help Hunter in every way we can, and by getting involved with JDRF research, we feel it’s the best we can do. Hopefully one day there will be no more T1D. We did the Philadelphia Walk last year, and it was a great family day.

There are many families going through the same things you are.

What are your fundraising strategies?

We are asking friends, family, and coworkers for donations. We are also planning on doing a hotdog sale in May.

How has JDRF’s support made a difference for you and your family?

JDRF has especially helped my husband and myself. Being grandparents, you want to do everything possible for your children and grandchildren, and having JDRF there to answer any questions we have is very comforting.

What would you tell someone with T1D or a newly diagnosed family about JDRF?

Being new to T1D ourselves, I would tell anyone to talk about how your life has changed and that there are many families going through the same things you are. Getting educated on T1D helps makes it a little easier.

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Stay tuned to the JDRF Eastern PA blog for more Walk Team spotlights!

Have you registered for One Walk Allentown yet? Visit walk.jdrf.org/allentown to create or join a team! For more information about the JDRF One Walk program, or to find a Walk location near you, please visit walk.jdrf.org.