Breakthrough T1D Illinois P2P Celebration Recap

Breakthrough T1D Illinois hosted their 2025 Peer to Peer (P2P) Fundraising Celebration at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on Saturday, February 21. The celebration was co-hosted by Board President, Staci Wood, Ride Coach, Steve Schmieder, and Board Member/Friends and Family Team Committee Chair, Bridget Kukis.  

Are you ready to take the call and make a BIG impact in our fundraising efforts? Complete this interest form to let us know how you’d like to use your skills to support our mission. 

 The afternoon celebrated fundraising champions from various P2P programs including Endurance, Walk, Young Leadership Committee (YLC) One Challenge, Your Way, and the National Diabetes Awareness Month Campaign. 

Whether you walked, rode, ran, or hosted an event – thank you! Collectively, all our 2025 fundraisers have raised $3.2M to our mission. 

Our 2025 Program Impact: 

• Illinois Ride: $886,543 

• Illinois Run: $163,225 

• Illinois Walk: $1.84M 

• • Teams: 366 

• • Walkers: 3,107 

• • V1Ps (raised over $1,000): 209  

• • Corporate Sponsorship: $497,750 

• Your Way: $225,000 

• YLC One Challenge: $44,553 

• National Diabetes Awareness Month Campaign: $110,112 

Top P2P Fundraisers by Program: 

• James Degen – Chicago Suburbs Walk: $45,738 

• Karen Case – Ride: $126,324 

• Mark Purtell – Run: $16,127 

• Katie Beckett – NDAM: $20,470 

• Mark VanderWiele – YLC One Challenge: $23,280 

While every single donation and dollar contributes to our mission – we must throw the confetti for our Walk teams that raised $5,000 or more! 

Platinum Fundraising Achievement ($25,000-$99,999): 5 teams 

Gold Fundraising Achievement ($15,000-$24,999): 12 teams 

 Silver Fundraising Achievement ($10,000-$14,999): 9 teams 

Bronze Fundraising Achievement ($5,000-$9,999): 36 teams 

A Big THANK YOU to our 2025 volunteers! If you coached Ride, served on a committee, led the YLC to a recording breaking One Party, know that you contributed to us reaching our goals and we want to thank you for your volunteer leadership! 

The 2025 P2P Fundraising Awards 

While the 2025 season was filled with people eager to raise awareness and dollars to fund a cure for type 1, there are some who stood out and made their mark in our community. 

Rookie of the Year – Winner: Maureen Smith (Ride) 

The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes 1st or 2nd year fundraisers within our programs. Maureen is someone who made an immediate impact in her very first season. She rode in Amelia Island alongside her brother and sister and raised an incredible $17,000! And the best part? She’s coming back this year to ride again – proving that once you’re part of this community, you’re in it for the long haul. 

Unstoppable Award – Winner: Julia’s Jivers (Chicago Suburbs Walk) 

The Unstoppable Award recognizes a team or participant that has tenacity and stamina to never give up. Team captain, Larry Kulik, registered their Walk team back in the early 2000s to support his daughter, Julia, who was diagnosed with T1D. Since their first Walk, they have raised over half a million dollars for the Illinois Chapter. In addition to their impressive fundraising, this team does an incredible job of maximizing donations through corporate matching programs because they have seen dollars drive research and know that every donation counts! 

Going the Extra Mile Award – Winner: Harrison’s Helpers (Chicago Walk) 

The Going the Extra Mile Award recognizes a fundraiser or team that not only uses an awareness campaign to raise funds but also plans and executes an event to bring their community together.  

In just two years, Chicago Walk team, Harrison’s Helpers, doubled their team fundraising from $12,000 to nearly $25,000. Team captain, Bridget Kukis, used email, social media efforts, held a bowling fundraiser, partnered with a local coffee shop for a giveback day, and worked a beer tent all to help reach her team’s fundraising goal. Bridget also secured a team within her company, a grant toward the Walk Program, and will be leading the Friends and Family Team Committee as Chair in the 2026 Walk season.  

Passion to Mission Award – Winner: Jacob Fjare 

The Passion to Mission Award recognizes a team or individual dedicated to our mission whole heartedly, and through the power of storytelling, they have used their voice to fundraise for breakthroughs because they know that one day, there will be a cure.  

 In 2025, Jacob represented Breakthrough T1D not once but twice – taking on both the Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon as a dedicated supporter runner. And his commitment doesn’t stop there. Whenever there’s an opportunity to elevate our mission, he answers the call. No matter if it’s lacing up for another race or stepping in front of the camera for an ABC7 interview. We are thankful for all of Jacob’s support in our Endurance program! 

The Change Marker Award – Winner: Kathy O’Neill 

The Change Maker Award was created to honor the hard work and dedication of someone who either volunteers or impacts our mission and leads others to follow in their footsteps.  

Kathy has a strong passion for the organization and compassion for the T1D community. As Chair for the National Diabetes Awareness Month (NDAM) Campaign, the energy she brought made a substantial impact: both financially but also by providing a space where people can share their personal T1D stories and learn about the stories of others. She continues to raise awareness and funds in hopes of shining light on the realities of living with this 24/7 invisible disease.  

The Future is Bright for 2026! 

This work cannot be done without the support of our volunteer leadership. Thank you to the following people who have already committed to supporting a P2P program this year. 

 YLC Executive Council  

• Kyle Shields 

• Julia O’Leary 

• Sophia Thorndyke 

 Chicago Walk 

• Stacey Spirrison – Corporate Sponsorship 

• Bridget Kukis – Friends and Family Team Chair 

Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Deepak Sevak – Corporate Sponsorship 

• Lynn Jacobsen – Friends and Family Team Chair 

 Ride Coaches 

• Kristine Androwski 

• Dwight DeClouttee 

• Steve Schmieder 

• Joshua Zilm

Are you ready to recommit to a program? Are you ready to take the call to volunteer? Let us know how you’d like to get involved by completing this interest form!  

This organization was founded by a group of volunteer parents who wanted a cure. Because of their conviction, tireless advocacy, and passion, we know that through research, T1D can and will be cured. And we are closer than ever!  

P2P Fundraising Award Nominees: 

Rookie of the Year Award Nominees 

• Regina Robotics – Chicago Walk 

• Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago – Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Maureen Smith – Ride 

• Annie Calderon – Your Way 

Unstoppable Award Nominees  

• Team Treece – Chicago Walk 

• Julia’s Jivers – Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Matthew Carletti – Ride 

• Jordyn Hein – Your Way 

• Julia O’Leary – YLC 

 Going the Extra Mile Award Nominees  

• Harrison’s Helpers – Chicago Walk 

• Ford Chicago Team – Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Meghan Roach – Ride 

• Carson’s Crew – Your Way 

 Passion to Mission Award Nominees 

• Diabetes Destroyers – Chicago Walk 

• Luke’s Legions – Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Owen Carletti – Ride 

• Jacob Fjare – Run 

 Change Maker Award Nominees 

• Molex – Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Lynn Jacobsen – Chicago Suburbs Walk 

• Steve Schmieder – Ride 

• Kathy O’Neill – Your Way 

• Ariel Carcamo – Your Way