The annual JDRF Wisconsin Gala, One Night One Mission returns on February 17, 2024 celebrating and fueling progress in type one diabetes (T1D) research in three locations across the state. One important part of the night is featuring our Fund a Cure families who share their stories and why T1D research is important to them. Fund a Cure is an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of people living with T1D and their loved ones through a 100% tax-deductible donation, which will accelerate life-changing research. Get to know our Fund a Cure Families below!

Our Appleton Gala Honoree Family are the Pamperin-Sexauers:

“Our beloved Isabelle was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2016, 4 days after her 5th birthday. Since her diagnosis, our family has been relentless and dedicated warriors in the fight to find a cure for Isabelle and everyone battling this relentless disease. We pray one day Isabelle will say she USED to have Type 1 Diabetes and JDRF will help us with that!”

If you want to hear more about the Pamperin-Sexauer’s story, click here.

At the Madison Gala, we will be honoring the Froneks:

“Our lives were touched by type 1 diabetes in 2015, when we found out that our, then almost 2-year-old daughter, Alena was diagnosed. In a matter of moments our world changed, although at the time we did not fully comprehend what this diagnosis would mean for her or for our family. Living with type 1 diabetes is a full-time job that no child should have to endure. It is never out of our minds or hearts. We work 24-7 to monitor Alena’s blood glucose levels and administer insulin or provide fast acting sugar based on those levels.”

To learn more about the Froneks, click here.

Our last honoree family from the Milwaukee area are the Rowens:

“It has been ten years since we got the shock of our lives when our son Leo was diagnosed a few weeks before his 7th birthday. That was the beginning of Leo living with T1D and all of the challenges that come with it. Leo has an identical twin, Cooper. We have known Cooper has antibodies for T1D and was at an extremely high risk of developing T1D for years. We raise money to fund research to improve Leo’s life with new technology to manage T1D, but also in the hopes that we could prevent or delay T1D for Cooper. It has been a race against time. Thanks to research funded by JDRF, Tzield, the first T1D preventative medical therapy, received FDA approval late in 2022. Cooper became the FIRST PATIENT in Wisconsin to receive this pioneering drug in June of this year. He was one of the first patients in the country.”

To learn more about the Rowen’s T1D journey, click here.

To hear these families’ whole stories, join us on Saturday, February 17 in one of our three ballrooms. Tickets to the JDRF Wisconsin Gala, One Night One Mission can be found by clicking here.