35 Faces, 35 years of Walking, 35 Reasons to Give

I want people to know that I don’t let my type 1 diabetes (T1D) stop me from doing anything! My favorite things to do are tumbling, dancing, playing tennis, taking pictures, and playing with friends. Sometimes I have to stop and check my blood sugar or drink a juice box if I am low, but I don’t let T1D get in my way of being a kid. Not only do I have to manage my T1D, but I also found out a few years ago that I have Celiac Disease as well. What does Celiac Disease mean? It means I can’t eat foods with gluten: a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Now before I eat anything, I first have to see if my food is gluten free and then count the carbohydrates for my T1D. It’s a lot of work for a 9 year old to keep up with! My family and friends are a huge help. One of the ways they help me is by supporting my Breakthrough T1D One Walk team. They come walk with me every year and donate to my team. My favorite Breakthrough T1D One Walk day memory is seeing our own team table and sign in the Team Village tent! I love wearing my “Mission for Maddie” t-shirt, getting my face painted, and seeing some of my T1D friends that I only get to see on Walk day. It’s important for people to know that even if you can’t donate, you can still help. You can spread the word about what T1D is and walk with our family!

Please consider supporting Maddie’s fundraising efforts by donating to her Breakthrough T1D One Walk team here.