Every two years Breakthrough T1D youth delegates head to Washington DC to speak with members of Congress about type 1 diabetes (T1D). Delegates between the ages of 4-17 are chosen from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Australia, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

This year, the New Jersey Metro & Rockland County Chapter is proud to announce our 4 delegates who will be representing us in Washington DC. Congratulations to:

Avery

Age: 17
Age at Diagnosis: 10

Avery has been a dancer for over 14 years and competitively for the past 5 years. She’s a member of her school’s varsity dance team and runs their social media. Avery is proud of maintaining great grades in school while balancing a busy schedule. She’s also proud of her role as a Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador team lead and all the work she has done to educate her community about what life is like living with T1D.

Whether it is through serving as a Youth Ambassador or raising funds with her Breakthrough T1D One Walk team, Avery does her part to make a difference. “It’s important to advocate and spread awareness with the platform I have as a person with T1D.” She enjoys being a role model for other kids with T1D and hopes to work as a dietician for children one day.

Bela

Age: 15
Age at Diagnosis: 13

Bela is on the competitive rowing team at her high school and her rowing academy—she feels those experiences have helped her gain important leadership and teamwork skills. She earned her black belt in Taekwondo, is part of her school district’s diversity panel, and president of her school’s Indian international dance team and helps plan events that celebrate Indian culture.

Bela was recently in the clinical trial for Tzield, the recently FDA approved drug proven to delay the onset of T1D, and the experience was eye opening for her. “I saw scientists, researchers, doctors, and nurses trying to find a cure and it was amazing.” Bela is passionate about advocating for reduced cost and improved access to therapies and technologies, particularly in communities of color. She hopes to become a lawyer or policymaker one day and advocate for people with disabilities.

Lindsay

Age: 17
Age at Diagnosis: 6

Lindsay remembers how isolated she felt after she was diagnosed with T1D, but that all changed when she and her family attended their first Breakthrough T1D One Walk. “Seeing so many people living with T1D gathering in hope, courage, and celebration made me feel so much less alone.”

Since then, Lindsay has been involved in helping raise money for breakthrough T1D research and has used her passion and talent for public speaking to spread awareness throughout her community. Lindsay says that her three biggest passions are theater, debate, and giving others the opportunity to shine. “Diabetes doesn’t hold me back, in fact, it has given me the tenacity, optimism, and poise that make all the things I accomplish and will accomplish possible.”

Russell

Age: 12
Age at Diagnosis: 6

Ask Russell what two of his most proud accomplishments are and he will be quick to tell you that they are achieving his Tenderfoot rank in Boy Scouts and serving as a Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador.

Russell has used his role as a Youth Ambassador to spread awareness about T1D within his community by sharing his story. “When I was diagnosed, my family didn’t know much about T1D. Maybe if they had, my diagnosis wouldn’t have been so scary, so I try to spread as much awareness as I can.” Russell plays piano, baseball, soccer, enjoys reading, and recently has gotten into 3D printing. He’s even printed his own insulin pump cases!

Learn More!

To read about all of the delegates chosen for the 2023 Children’s Congress, visit Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress!