Kobi Allston wants everyone to know that her type 1 diabetes doesn’t hold her back.
“I don’t let it control me or control my body,” the 14-year-old high school freshman said. “It’s just something I have to overcome. We make it look like it’s easy. It isn’t easy, but it gets easier and it makes you a stronger person.”
Kobi, of San Leandro, is one of seven Walk Ambassadors who helps spread the word about Breakthrough T1D, the Walk to Cure Diabetes and the need to cure type 1 diabetes.
The youths apply for the chance to represent Breakthrough T1D and the Bay Area through the Walk Ambassador program, now in its second year. The idea behind the ambassador program is to put a human face and personal touch to type 1 diabetes and Breakthrough T1D’s quest for a cure.
Kobi has been an ambassador for two years. She found out about the program through her diabetes nurse educator.
“I went to some of the walks and I thought, ‘I really like this. I should become more active,’ “ she said. “I like how positive everyone is, especially kids my age. Most of us are playing sports. It just makes it so much easier. We share inside tips that doctors can’t because (the other kids are) actually living with it, too.”
Anya Khurana wanted to be an ambassador so that she could make a positive impact.
“A lot of times, I feel like I’m kind of just waiting around for someone to find a cure,” she said. “But this way, I’m helping to raise money and raise awareness. I’m actively involved in helping to find a cure.”
Anya, a 13-year-old from San Ramon, was living in India when she was diagnosed. The family became active overseas with Breakthrough T1D and continued their involvement when they moved back to the states.
“I’d like to help the people who were just diagnosed,” she said. “I know what that feels like. It’s kind of scary, and you’re very nervous. I also like meeting lots of other diabetic people. It helps me feel like I’m not alone.”
Anya has always wanted to be a doctor, but now she’s learning toward specializing in endocrinology. As an ambassador, she wants to let people know that diabetes doesn’t hold you back.
“It’s harder than a regular person’s life, of course, but you can still do all the things that everyone else can do,” she said. “You just have to be a little more responsible and a little more diligent. While type 1 diabetes is a burden, it also builds responsibility and compassion in lots of people.”
At age 18, Savannah Pasha of San Rafael is the oldest walk ambassador. She hopes to be a strong role model for younger kids.
“I thought it would be a good way to make a positive influence and be a good role model for other kids who are going through the same thing,” she said. “I want to get my story out there to show other kids that you can still do everything and achieve whatever you want as long as you’re taking care of yourself well.”
Savannah will head off to college this fall at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Attending an out-of-state college is just another big step that proves diabetes doesn’t hold her back.
“I’ll be able to go away to school and have a normal life as long as I’m taking care of everything the way I should be,” she said. She advises kids to “accept that you have (diabetes) and learn how to deal with it rather than having self-pity and using it as an excuse.”
Savannah, who dreams of being an oncologist, supports Breakthrough T1D because “it’s a big organization that’s getting a lot of stuff done. They have a really positive message. They’re getting done what I hope to accomplish – they work toward getting the message out about what (diabetes) is and encourage people to do whatever they want, and (they’re also) looking for a cure.”
