{"id":16407,"date":"2025-03-26T14:54:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T14:54:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/greaternewengland\/?p=16407"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:35:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:35:31","slug":"april-cure-champions-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/greaternewengland\/2025\/03\/26\/april-cure-champions-2\/","title":{"rendered":"April Cure Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet the Breakthrough T1D Run<\/a> team that will be putting mission to miles on Monday, April 21 at the 129th Boston Marathon\u00ae presented by Bank of America! Thank you to these passionate and dedicated athletes for raising critical funds for type 1 diabetes<\/a> (T1D) research!<\/p>\n

This team of incredible athletes and Breakthrough T1D<\/a> supporters has already raised $92,000 for Breakthrough T1D\u2019s mission. Thank you to our team for their dedication and commitment!<\/p>\n

——————————————————<\/p>\n

Brittany Gaulin<\/a> | Boston, MA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“Don\u2019t forget to celebrate how far you\u2019ve come.”<\/em><\/p>\n

What is your connection to Breakthrough T1D and T1D:<\/strong>\u00a0My older brother, Shaunn, was diagnosed with T1D at 10 years old. At the age of 32, we tragically lost him to diabetic ketoacidosis. I also have a cousin, Alexis, who was diagnosed with T1D<\/a> at only two years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Brittany<\/a><\/p>\n

How did you get into running:<\/strong>\u00a0As a kid, I wasn\u2019t very into running\u2014in fact I dreaded it during practices. But I loved being active and playing sports. As I got older, I got more into working out and I started signing up for the occasional 5K just for fun. <\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last year, running has become so much more than just exercise, it\u2019s been a way for me to challenge myself, clear my head, and process life\u2014it\u2019s become incredibly therapeutic for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is this your first marathon:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes! This is my very first marathon. Running one has always been in the back of my mind as something that would be such a cool accomplishment. I\u2019m definitely a little nervous, but mostly excited\u2014especially to be doing it in Boston and for a cause that means so much to me.<\/p>\n

What you are most looking forward to at this year’s race: <\/strong>I\u2019m really looking forward to the energy and excitement of race day\u2014being out there with all the other runners, the crowds, and the atmosphere. I\u2019ve heard Boston is like no other, and I can\u2019t wait to experience it for myself. And I\u2019m especially excited to see my family and friends cheering me along the course as they\u2019ve been such amazing supporters throughout this whole journey.<\/p>\n

What are you most nervous about:<\/strong> Honestly\u2026 the 26.2 miles! It\u2019s such a big distance, and even with all the training, it\u2019s hard not to feel a little intimidated. And of course, the Boston hills are definitely on my mind. I know there will be tough moments, but I\u2019m hoping to stay strong, trust my training, and soak it all in\u2014no matter how it goes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Longest (or favorite) training run\/route:<\/strong> My favorite training run was my 20-miler, which I turned into a relay-style fun run\u2014\u201c20 friends for 20 miles\u201d\u2014so I wouldn\u2019t have to do it alone. My friends jumped in at different points along the route, and it made the miles fly by. They were total troopers\u2014bringing the energy, keeping me going, and even bearing some rain with me. We hit all the Boston landmarks\u2014starting in Brighton, going down Beacon Street, passing Fenway Park, along the Esplanade, through the Common, following the Freedom Trail, and finishing with a couple miles along the Southie beaches. It was so special to celebrate the longest run of my training block with them. Highly recommend tricking your friends and family into marathon training with you!<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favorite fuel (before, during and after the race):<\/strong> Before a race, my go-to is a warm bowl of oatmeal with banana and yogurt. During the race, I love eating gummy snacks and salt tabs, but I\u2019ll also throw in some gels\u2014not because I love them, but because they are the easiest for me to eat without choking while running. After the race, my ideal meal is a grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries, side of honey mustard and an ice-cold beverage.<\/p>\n

Do you run with music? If so, what do you listen to:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>If I\u2019m running solo, music is a must. I\u2019m always adding new songs to my playlist or trying out new mixes\u2014usually anything with a good beat. But for a long run, I always find my way back to a Fred again\u2026 mix.<\/p>\n

——————————————————<\/p>\n

Andrew Kebalka<\/a> | Lebanon, NH<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“Winners define themselves by what they made happen, losers define themselves by what happened to them.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Andrew<\/a>What is your connection to Breakthrough T1D and T1D: <\/strong>I was diagnosed at 24 years old with T1D. My initial connection to Breakthrough T1D was being a general member\u00a0of the Young Leadership Committee (YLC) of the Greater New England Chapter of JDRF for a number of years. This was my first experience being around other T1D patients and I quickly realized how important support like this was.<\/p>\n

How did you get into running:<\/strong> Life and diabetes.<\/p>\n

After being diagnosed with T1D, I learned really quick that running with blood sugar swings isn’t exactly a smooth ride.<\/p>\n

A few rough experiences had me convinced for a number of years that the two just didn\u2019t mix. But I’ve always met adversity head-on. The challenge of running with diabetes became something I gravitated towards. The discipline, the strategy\u2014it clicked just recently. Running gave me something to master, not just survive.<\/p>\n

This is my second marathon, first official. I was the first alternate on the 2024 BreakthroughT1D team, and when no spots opened up after the drop-out deadline, I couldn\u2019t take my cross hairs off it. So, the night before the 2024 Boston Marathon, I laced up at 8:30 p.m. and ran a midnight marathon of my own. This year, I\u2019m excited to finally run it with the crowd\u2014and to see where I\u2019m stepping.<\/p>\n

What you are most looking forward to at this year’s race: <\/strong>The crowds! Also, sharing this moment with the T1D children and their families I have connected with during the journey of the last few months of training and fundraising. Showing them that anything is possible with T1D is something I look forward to.<\/p>\n

What are you most nervous about:<\/strong>\u00a0Anything can happen on race day!<\/p>\n

Longest (or favorite) training run\/route:<\/strong> I’ve been doing the Charles River 500 here in Boston. Being out there alone in the early morning hours is hard to beat, especially during a good storm.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favorite fuel:<\/strong> My protein shake has five Michelin stars.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you run with music? If so, what do you listen to:<\/strong>\u00a0Absolutely, I would head home without it. “Where The Streets Have No Names” by U2 trims a lot of time off a run.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Follow Andrew on Instagram: @atkebalka<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

——————————————————<\/p>\n

Tiffany McMillan<\/a> | Houston, TX<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“To succeed, you need to find something to hold onto, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.” – Tony Dorsett<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tiffany<\/a>What is your connection to Breakthrough T1D and T1D: <\/strong>In September 2024 my 18-year-old daughter was diagnosed with T1D as a senior in high school. <\/span><\/p>\n

Her ambulance ride, one week hospital stay, and the last six months have been the scariest of our lives. <\/span><\/p>\n

We are helping her navigate how to keep herself alive and healthy on an hour-by-hour basis!<\/span><\/p>\n

How did you get into running:<\/strong> I ran my first three miles and my first marathon in 2016. I fell in love with marathon running and travel. Since that first New York City Marathon in 2016, I have run NYC again, London, Tokyo, Berlin, and Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n

What you are most looking forward to at this year’s race: <\/strong>I look most forward to running in honor of my recently diagnosed daughter with T1D. I look forward to running to raise money and awareness for the challenges she faces each day.<\/p>\n

\"Tiffany<\/a>People tend to think that running a marathon seems soooooo hard. Wow. Yes. It pales in comparison to every day of her life with T1D. When I don’t want to run in the wind or the cold or the rain or just because I don’t want to run, I remind myself that she calculates every morsel of food that she eats, gives insulin several times per day, sometimes can’t make her morning workout because she is too low or too high, and wakes up often several times in the middle of the night when her CGM blares that she is low to force herself sugar so she stays alive.<\/p>\n

What are you most nervous about: <\/strong>The hills<\/span><\/p>\n

Longest (or favorite) training run\/route:<\/strong> 20!<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favorite fuel:<\/strong> Night before is a burger and beer. Before is a piece of toast or apple with peanut butter. After… a beer!<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you run with music? If so, what do you listen to:<\/strong> Usually the last half. First half of long runs I call my grandma and catch up.<\/span><\/p>\n

——————————————————<\/p>\n

Jonathan Pivor<\/a> | Boston, MA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If Zac can face T1D every single day with strength and resilience, I can take on 26.2 miles for him. This race is a reminder that no challenge is too big when you refuse to give up.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Jonathan<\/a>What is your connection to Breakthrough T1D and T1D: <\/strong>My connection to Breakthrough T1D is deeply personal\u2014my son, Zac, was diagnosed with T1D when he was just 2.5 years old. Since then, I’ve seen firsthand the resilience, strength, and daily challenges<\/span>\u00a0that come with this disease. From countless finger pricks to navigating life with pumps and CGMs, Zac faces it all with determination and a spirit that inspires me every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

This marathon isn\u2019t just about running\u2014it\u2019s about Zac. He\u2019s the reason I\u2019m doing this. When he asked me to run, there was no hesitation. If he can face T1D every single day, I can take on 26.2 miles for him.<\/p>\n

This journey has also connected me to an incredible community of families, advocates, and individuals living with T1D. Their stories of perseverance remind me that while T1D is relentless, so is the strength of those who fight it.<\/p>\n

This race is for Zac and for every person in the T1D community<\/a>. To show them they\u2019re not alone. To push for better treatments. And to keep fighting for the day we find a cure.<\/p>\n

How did you get into running:<\/strong>\u00a0I’ve always needed to incorporate cardio into my routine for heart health, having undergone open-heart surgery as a baby. But running? That was never really my thing\u2014until I started training for Boston this year. The process was tough, full of challenges and setbacks, but along the way, something changed. Now, I can confidently say that I may not run a marathon again, yet running has earned a permanent spot in my weekly workout routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is this your first marathon:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

What you are most looking forward to at this year’s race: <\/strong>I’m most looking forward to the incredible energy of the crowds, the electric atmosphere, and, most of all, the moment I see Zac and my wife at the finish line\u2014knowing I\u2019ve shown him that anything is possible.<\/p>\n

What are you most nervous about:<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019m most nervous about whether I\u2019ve trained enough, if my body will hold up over 26.2 miles, and what race day conditions will bring. The weather is unpredictable, and anything from extreme heat to cold rain could add another layer of challenge. But at the end of the day, I know I\u2019ve put in the work, and I\u2019ll be ready to take it all in stride.<\/span><\/p>\n

Longest (or favorite) training run\/route:<\/strong> One of my favorite training runs was my 17-mile route that took me through the heart of Boston and into Brookline. Running through the city, past familiar landmarks, and feeling the energy of the streets made the miles fly by. It was one of tho<\/span>se runs where everything clicked\u2014the pace, the scenery, and the sense of progress toward race day.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favorite fuel:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n