Dear JDRF Friends,

Hi there! We are Remi and Mikala, and we’re new best friends! We wanted to write you this letter to tell you about how type 1 diabetes (T1D) brought us together. Mikala was 2 years old when she was diagnosed, and Remi was 2 ½ years old. It’s been hard and sometimes scary. But it makes our hearts so happy to be friends.

We first met over the summer at a playdate for kids with T1D. It was a sunny day at a water park, and we were a little bit nervous because we didn’t know anyone. But then, something amazing happened – we spotted each other’s diabetes gear! Mikala had her continuous glucose monitor, and Remi had colorful stickers on her pump. We talked and splashed in the water, and suddenly, having T1D wasn’t lonely anymore.

Now, we want to tell you about something else super cool that happened earlier this month – the JDRF One Walk! It was the first Walk for both of us, and we couldn’t believe how many people were there to support finding a cure for T1D. It was so fun to meet other kids with T1D and get our faces painted and play games. We both walked in the T1D Parade wearing our superhero capes and everyone cheered for us!

The JDRF One Walk is really important because it brings people like us together and helps raise money for T1D research. We’re asking you to join us by making a donation today. Walk Day is over but JDRF is accepting contributions through the end of the year – just click here. Every little bit helps, and together we can make a big difference!

We are so grateful for the awesome JDRF community. We love all the friends we met at the Walk, and your support means the world to us.

Hugs and high-fives,

Remi and Mikala