Breakthrough T1D Columbus Gala 2027

Bri and Jason Hartke are the Chairs of the 2027 Central Ohio Gala, and for them, this mission is personal.

The day their daughter, Cassidy, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), their whole world changed. One minute they were living a busy, normal life, and the next they were in a hospital with so many questions and so few answers.

They just want Cassidy to be a kid: to play, sleep, eat, and go to cheer and gymnastics without diabetes always being there. But T1D never takes a day off. There have been scary moments and sleepless nights, but through it all, Cassidy has shown incredible strength and resilience. She handles this disease with grace and a “do what I have to do” attitude, and her parents couldn’t be more proud.

For Bri and Jason, this is not just a cause. It’s their daughter. That is why they will never stop hoping, raising awareness, and fighting for a cure, not just for Cassidy, but for every child and family living with T1D.