Fund A Cure with Danna Soriano | Breakthrough T1D Kansas City Gala 2026

About Danna

August 8, 2023 is a date forever etched in our hearts. What was supposed to be a routine back-to-school physical turned into a life altering moment when Danna was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The signs had been there rapid weight loss, constant thirst, overwhelming fatigue, headaches, chest palpitations, and nausea, but nothing could have prepared us for hearing those words.

In an instant, our world changed.

As parents, we were terrified. We wondered what her life would look like, how much she would lose, and how much she would have to grow up overnight. But Danna met this diagnosis with a strength far beyond her years. From day one, she chose courage. She chose resilience. And she chose to turn her diagnosis into a mission.

Since her diagnosis just two and a half years ago, Danna has become a passionate advocate for children living with Type 1 diabetes. She proudly served as a 2025 Dream Gala Ambassador, was selected to participate in the 2025 Children’s Congress, and stood before our nation’s leaders advocating for the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program ,not just for herself, but for every child who depends on insulin to survive.

In our hometown of Harrisonville, Missouri, Danna has participated in countless fundraising events, educating others and raising awareness. She has spent many Saturdays reaching out to the Hispanic community, helping families understand Type 1 diabetes and reminding them they are not alone.

And still she’s just a kid with the world on her shoulders.

When she isn’t making the 180 extra decisions every single day that Type 1 diabetes demands, Danna is the team manager for her school’s girls wrestling team and a competitive right-wing soccer player. She shows up. She leads. She perseveres even on the days when her blood sugar drops in the middle of a game, when her CGM fails her, or when she has to rush to the office of her amazing school nurse, Micaelee, just to eat or drink something so she can safely finish the school day. She pushes through the fear of numbers suddenly tanking or not dosing correctly and dealing with stubborn high numbers. Constant worry of running out of insulin, burdens no child should have to carry.

Type 1 diabetes is relentless. It doesn’t take breaks. It doesn’t care about school days, sports seasons, or childhood milestones. Yet Danna continues to dream of a future where she doesn’t have to count carbs before enjoying time with friends, worry about medical devices falling off, or fear that life saving insulin may not always be accessible.

That is why the 2026 Dream Gala matters.

Danna and millions of children like her are counting on your support to help fund research, advance treatments, and ultimately find a cure. Until that day comes, families like ours will keep fighting. But we cannot do it alone.

Your generosity gives hope.

Your support saves lives.

And your belief in a cure brings us closer to a world where no child has to live in constant fear of their next blood sugar reading