We are counting down the days until JDRF One Walk Utah on May 21, 2022 at the Shops at South Town in Sandy, UT! This year will be the first time our T1D community has gathered in person on a large scale since 2019 so we asked a few of our T1D champions what they’re looking forward to most on Walk Day:

My name is Andrew. I was diagnosed with T1D when I was 7 right before the pandemic started. I’m now 9, and I’m almost to my two-year dia-versary. I’ve never been to the JDRF One Walk, but I’m really looking forward to helping raise money to help kids like me. My team’s name is The Sassy Pumps (my sister’s idea—she has T1D too). I’ve learned that a lot of people don’t know much about T1D. I wish people knew that it’s way different than type 2 diabetes. I don’t expect people to know about all illnesses, but it would be helpful for people to understand a little. For me, the hardest part about having T1D is all the pokes (from finger pricks, glucose monitors, and pump sites) and the shots. The best part is I got a phone way before I would have otherwise to help keep track of my blood glucose. If I were going to give advice to another kid who just got diagnosed, I would tell them: Be brave! It will get better!

Hi, my name is Ella, and I’m 12 years old. I was diagnosed with T1D last year. This will be my first time at the JDRF One Walk, and I’m looking forward to getting closer to a cure! My team’s name is The Sassy Pumps. Adding stickers to my pump to make it sparkly is one of the best parts about living with diabetes. I do get a lot of questions about my pump, and I wish people knew I didn’t get T1D because I ate too much sugar or don’t exercise enough, and my pump is not a toy (or a Go Pro). If I were going to give advice to kids who just got diagnosed, I would tell them to try to stay positive—your life is not over!

My name is Olivia, and my team name is “Olivia’s Optimists.” I was diagnosed when I was barely eight years old, and I just turned 14. I’ve been living with diabetes for almost 6 years.

I wish people knew how common diabetes is, and that it can be a difficult thing to learn to cope with.  I wish that people could understand that there are two types of diabetes and that they are completely different. There are so many wrong ideas about type 1, mostly involving that I must have eaten too much sugar.

I have been to A JDRF walk once before and I enjoyed being around and talking to people like me who understand everything I’ve been through. My family’s fundraiser is going really well so far!  We are almost halfway to our goal of $5000.00.  People who I don’t even know personally have donated generously to our team, and that is really touching. This year I’m really looking forward to seeing some of my friends who have diabetes, and getting the opportunity to meet others at the walk. It is so fun to get to know other kids who have a Dexcom, pump and know what I’m talking about when I say carb count.

The first few months of having diabetes is really tough.  I’d try to encourage a newly diagnosed kid to keep on going.  Each day it gets a little easier.  No matter how hard the journey is, it will get better and better. Even though getting diabetes sucks, it can open some new doors of opportunity to meet others who live and thrive with this disease.

My name is Will and my One Walk Team Name is Will’s Warriors. I was diagnosed with T1D when I was 5-years-old and I’m 9-years-old now. One of my favorite things about Walk is spreading awareness – I wish people knew that T1D isn’t easy and I didn’t get it from eating too much sugar.

On Walk Day, I’m also looking forward to seeing my community show up to support me and the thousands of other people who show up for the T1D community. PLUS, the bouncy house is always fun!!! I fundraise in a few ways: I make videos to share with my family and friends and we sell really yummy cake pops and T1D related decals in my mom’s Etsy shop.

I want kids new to T1D to know that T1D isn’t the hardest thing about life, you can still be a regular kid! T1D has taught me how to be responsible and strong.

Hi, my name is Reese and my Walk Team is named Team Reese. I was diagnosed with T1D when I was 6-years-old and now I’m 11-years-old. I wish that more people knew that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and I did not get it from eating candy.

My favorite part about Walk has always been seeing all of my friends and family who come out to support me! Everyone shows up in Team Reese t-shirts. I can’t wait to see them all again this year. We raise money for T1D research by holding the Team Reese golf tournament, we hosted an event with Kendra Scott, and we do fundraising on social media. If you’re new to Walk, social media is a great place to start fundraising!

If you’re new to T1D, I want you to know that it gets easier everyday! Find other T1D friends that understand what you are going through – you are NOT alone!

CLICK HERE to join Reese, Will, Ella, Andrew and Olivia at JDRF One Walk Utah! If you’d like to volunteer at the Walk (or to set up the Walk) CLICK HERE.

Questions about how to get started? Reach out to Dana at DSlack@jdrf.org or 303-304-3087.