Say hello to the 42nd Annual Beat the Bridge Ambassadors! These three inspiring individuals are dedicating their time to educating the community about type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the power of Beat the Bridge! Join these Beat the Bridge champions on May 19, 2024, by registering today at BeattheBridge.org!  

Preston and Sophia, ages 14 and 16

Introducing Beat the Bridge Ambassadors Sophia and Preston. For the Miele family, type 1 diabetes is a family affair. Preston was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 16 months old. Years later, his older sister Sophia was diagnosed at age 8. They support each other and Preston says  “T1D brought us closer together.” They have participated in Beat the Bridge for over 10 years and they both remember doing the 3 mile walk with their family in a stroller!

Sophia says, “a cure for T1D would be revolutionary not just for myself and my family, but for the millions of people who have T1D.” Preston and Sophia are passionate about JDRF advocacy efforts and raising awareness – they are excited to share their stories and help us get one step closer to a world without T1D.

Roman, age 12 

Meet T1D Rockstar Roman! Roman was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January 2023. Despite the challenges, Roman has refused to let T1D stop him from living the active life he loves. To stay positive, he plays soccer, lacrosse, and basketball and loves to fish! 2023 was Roman’s first Beat the Bridge and blew it out of the water with a huge team of supportive friends and family. Roman is so excited to be a Beat the Bridge Ambassador this year – “I want to show the world that even with diabetes we can conquer anything in life.”