Liz Corey really knows how to get people moving! The jazzercise instructor has been warming us up at the Walk to Cure Diabetes for many years. She is a real crowd pleaser with her motivating cardio moves and high-energy choice of music. Our Walkers look forward to her lively presence at all four locations around the Bay Area.

Liz became involved with JDRF after her daughter Shelby was diagnosed with T1D in 2001 at the age of two. The following year her family attended their first Walk. But this would not be her family’s only experience with a T1D diagnosis. “When Scott [Shelby’s dad] was diagnosed with T1D through TrialNet a few years ago, we changed our Walk team name from Team Shelby to Shelby & Co.,” she says. Liz wanted to do more for JDRF so she offered to do the warm up at one Walk. Of course, after that, all the Walks wanted her! “I was so honored to be considered and of course, said YES!” she says. “I’m still humbled and surprised when reach out and invited back each year.”

From day one Liz realized that T1D is a family disease. She also saw that support was available and that her family was not alone. Her own family has been role model for others in the T1D community. Besides offering her blood-pumping warm ups at the Walk each year, Liz has served on Walk committees and this year she was Family Chair for the San Francisco Walk. Scott was right there with her making phone calls to Family Teams. Their son Alex helps Liz with the warm-ups on stage. Shelby served as a Walk Ambassador this year, helping to educate the public about T1D.

“There are people going through the same challenges as you are,” Liz says. “Don’t be afraid to reach out, ask questions, and be on a quest to learn all you can about this life-changing disease.”

When Liz reflects on her family’s experience with T1D she says, “I’ve watched my beautiful baby handle T1D with the most amazing amount of bravery and grace. Still, a cure would change my family in a way that is indescribable. Wouldn’t it be grand if she could go through her college years, a wedding and pregnancies without the worry of T1D?” No doubt, Liz will be keeping us on our toes until a cure is found.

Liz has been a Jazzercise instructor since 1991. She has an AA from NVC, a BA from Sonoma State, teaching credentials and and an MA from Touro University. She lives in American Canyon.