Breakthrough T1D Walk is a nationwide movement dedicated to raising type 1 diabetes (T1D) awareness and funding research. As the largest T1D walk, this event empowers individuals and teams to take action, and that includes the Burns family of Elysburg, PA.
Alyssa Burns says Breakthrough T1D Walk came into her life last year, a few months after her son, Carter, was diagnosed with T1D at 8 years old.
“It came up as an ad on my Facebook, and I thought, wow, this seems incredible!” Alyssa said. “I wanted to get Carter involved with meeting other people who have type 1 diabetes because we have nobody. He doesn’t know anybody with type 1, we have no family members. I thought it’d be good for him to get himself out there, meet some other kids, and show him that he’s not alone in this.”
So, Alyssa says they got Team Carter Strong up and running, raised around $300, and found their T1D community at Breakthrough T1D Walk, Harrisburg.
“It was emotional, it was incredible. I still think about it pretty often,” she said. “The community aspect of it—all of the kids who just made Carter feel involved and included, and everybody was so warm and welcoming.”
A Growing Community Effort
Carter, now 10, and Team Carter Strong are getting ready for their second Harrisburg Walk on October 25. But this year, they are making a much bigger fundraising splash after getting some great tips from fellow walkers.
In 2025, Carter’s school sold bracelets on World Diabetes Day (November 14) to raise money for Breakthrough T1D. This year, they are doing a t-shirt sale.
“I asked local businesses if they would donate any amount of money, and their names will be put on the back of the t-shirts that we will sell, for sponsorship. We had such an outpouring of businesses say that they wanted to help,” Alyssa said. “We also had a local restaurant that said, ‘Hey, we want to do a music bingo and give all the proceeds towards Breakthrough T1D. That was over $2,000.”
Additionally, the school is planning a “blue out” game.
“It’s a basketball game where the cheerleaders are going to have blue pom-poms, the players are going to wear blue socks, and all the proceeds are going to go to Breakthrough T1D,” Alyssa said.
Overall, she says the outpouring of support for Team Carter Strong, and Breakthrough T1D, has been amazing to see, and it’s led to them upping their fundraising goal, first from $500 to $1000, then to $3,000, $4,000, and $5,000, five weeks out from the walk.
“We’re currently at $4,073, but that doesn’t even include the t-shirt sale that they’re doing at school yet … and then also, the blue out game,” Alyssa said.
First Step: Get Involved!
Alyssa’s advice for people looking to get started with Walk? Find your community and take that first step! Team Carter Strong didn’t start out with a $5,000 goal their first year, after all.
“Just put yourself out there—I mean, it doesn’t hurt to ask,” she said. “It doesn’t hurt to share your story, because my thinking is Carter won’t be the last kid—of his friend group, maybe, even—that will be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.”
“I want to show people it’s not scary. I want to show people it’s manageable. I want to show people that he’s the same kid,” she added.
And as Team Carter Strong prepares to walk, Alyssa says it all goes back to family and community.
“Type 1 diabetes is life-changing, but it really strengthens your sense of family and just caring for each other,” Alyssa said. “It strengthened me as a mom, that’s for sure.”
Harrisburg is just one of many cities that hold a Breakthrough T1D Walk. Register today and walk with us to help make everyday life with T1D better!
