Kevin O’Scanlon knows how to put a spin on T1D. A professional DJ who runs the San Francisco office of Sound in Motion, he has provided entertainment (and earned many fans!) at the Walk to Cure Diabetes for many years. Walkers love his music choices but also his upbeat attitude about living with T1D. Kevin was diagnosed with the disease at age five. “From the get go, my amazing mother was on board with fundraising and T1D community events,” he says. “She helped teach me early on not to be afraid of my condition, but rather take control of it, so it doesn’t control you.” Following his mother’s example, Kevin is passionate about his volunteer work and, lucky for us, has chosen to give his time to Breakthrough T1D Bay Area. “Breakthrough T1D is such an amazing organization that brings people together and really focuses on a common cause – raising money to cure, treat and prevent T1D,” he says.
Kevin is a great role model for living with T1D. “T1D is something that changes your life and alters the way you think about food, your body, your health and every activity you do. It is something you have to consider every morning, day and night,” he says. “It is not, however, something that should hold you back or keep you from chasing your dreams or doing whatever you want. I’ve climbed mountains in Asia, scuba dived in Borneo, traveled the world and have never let T1D stand in the way.”
Kevin will keep entertaining us until a cure is found. “I know that my time spent volunteering with Breakthrough T1D goes directly to the cause. More than any other organization related to diabetes research, the money raised gets to the people who need it…the people fighting to cure this disease,” he says. “Working with Breakthrough T1D, I have the opportunity to be a leader and to show children, like I once was, that life if OK, but more importantly, that together we will beat this. Together we will find a cure!”
Pictured: Kevin and his wife Diana with their dog Napa.
