When Charlie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in February 2015, he was just 22 months old. His family had recently moved to a new state, far from the support network they once knew, and were navigating not only the complexities of a T1D diagnosis but also other serious medical challenges that required constant care and vigilance.
Charlie couldn’t walk independently, and his respiratory issues meant every day carried a little extra weight. Ashleigh, his mom, was a stay-at-home parent at the time, managing life with Charlie and his sister, Violet. The early years were isolating—a new town, a new diagnosis, a new reality. But in May of 2017, something changed.
Finding a community of support
Ashleigh came across a Walk organized by Breakthrough T1D (then JDRF) and signed up on a whim. She didn’t expect much. But when the day came, the support was overwhelming. That single act—joining the Walk—sparked something powerful. From that first event, Charlie’s Checkers was born.
Their extended family rallied around them, and a growing community formed. Since their first steps as a Walk team, Charlie’s Checkers has grown into a mission-driven force, fueled by love, resilience, and a fierce commitment to helping other families impacted by T1D.
Together, they’ve raised nearly $100,000 to help fund research to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes.
Charlie himself didn’t care much about the Walk—as long as he got to enjoy the ride around the lake in his wagon, he was content. He was a kid who took his time warming up to people, but once he did, he carved out a permanent place in their hearts. To know Charlie was to love him.
A legacy that lives on
In June of 2023, Charlie developed sepsis and was hospitalized for over three weeks. On July 1, 2023, he passed away from complications. He was ten years old.
Today, Charlie’s Checkers continues—no longer just walking in his honor, but in his memory. The mission remains the same: to support Breakthrough T1D’s work in driving awareness, education, and critical research. Through heartbreak and healing, Charlie’s legacy lives on in every step his team takes.
And they’re just getting started.
By Ashleigh Sand, Charlie’s mother
Walk toward cures
Breakthrough T1D Walk is the largest global event for the T1D community, driving research, advocacy, and support to improve lives while funding cures research.
