A new addition to our One Walk program, the Breakthrough T1D One Walk Ambassador is the face of our walk events. Each year, an Ambassador will be selected to help connect the community at-large with Breakthrough T1D by sharing their personal T1D journey with chapter members, press and corporate partners during One Walk season.

As a passionate, engaged participant of the One Walk program, our Ambassador is selected for their continued commitment to fundraising and Breakthrough T1D’s mission.

We’re excited and proud to announce that Danny Zinn is this year’s One Walk Ambassador!

Hello, my name is Danny Zinn, and I am this year’s Breakthrough T1D One Walk Ambassador. I am so excited to be helping out with an event that has played such a large part in my life. I am 15 years old and going into 10^th grade. At my school, I play lacrosse and perform in the musical, and every summer I go to a sleepaway camp that I love. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) when I was 6 and a half years old, and ever since then, my team, Pumps of Thunder, and I have been walking with Breakthrough T1D.

This event is so important to me because it does so much to help the T1D nation both financially and emotionally. While it is a great opportunity to raise money for diabetes research and advances, it also helps raise awareness and provide a sense of belonging. I always bring friends to the walk, and it shows them more what diabetes is really all about, which is helpful, considering some think I have it because I ate too much candy.

I have such distinct memories of my first walk with Breakthrough T1D.  There was a freezing, steady downpour and gale-force winds thanks to an unfortunately timed Nor’easter, but I still managed to have an amazing time with my friends and family. Even though we were shivering and wet, I learned that day about the remarkable community of people that Breakthrough T1D brings together, thousands of people with diabetes and their supporters, all striving for the same goal I am —  a world without T1D. That experience shaped my future and my commitment to Breakthrough T1D. Since that rainy day, my team and I have returned every year for the Breakthrough T1D walk.

I am so proud of what Pumps of Thunder has been able to accomplish. In the eight years we have been walking, we have raised more than $156,000 for T1D research!  And while that’s a great feeling, it’s not really about any one team’s contribution; it is about the contributions of the whole Breakthrough T1D community to end T1D.

By joining the walk each year, I have also felt like I am more and more part of the Breakthrough T1D and T1D community. I now have people that I can share my struggle with and people who truly understand what diabetes means to all the people it effects. Diabetes has had a huge impact on my life, it’s something I have to pay attention to pretty much 24/7, and I am so grateful to have a community that is so connected and caring. The Breakthrough T1D family helps me to realize that I am not alone and that there are so many other people that share my struggle. Every year at the walk I am amazed by the devotion of the attendees — thousands of people all striving for one goal.

I am so thankful to Breakthrough T1D for giving me the opportunity to be the One Walk Ambassador and to help turn Type One into Type None.