This Walk Season, Breakthrough T1D Bay Area is especially appreciative of Lisa Fischer-Colbrie. As Walk Logistics Chair, Lisa came to all four Walks and enthusiastically chipped in to ensure that each event was run smoothly. Her passion and dedication are contagious. She was a driving force at each Walk and we are so grateful. Lisa is quick to acknowledge that she is one player in a whole team of people dedicated to putting on the Walks. She praises Susan Mohr, Walk Chair, and the Breakthrough T1D staff for their leadership in planning and executing the events. She also applauds the legion of volunteers who contribute their time on Walk day. We sat down with Lisa to ask her about her dedication and why she wants a cure for T1D:

JDRF Bay Area: Do you have a personal connection to T1D?

Lisa Fischer-Colbrie: My 24 year old son, Tyler, has T1D.  He was diagnosed when he was 11.  Tyler has been living with this disease for thirteen years, but from the beginning, his disease has been a family affair. My husband, Mark, has been the most involved, having served on the Silicon Valley Board, Greater Bay Area Board and now the Breakthrough T1D International Board in addition to dozens of committees. I have helped organize the Silicon Valley Walk since 2000 and Tyler has been volunteering and participating in numerous Breakthrough T1D events for years. Most recently he has begun working with the YLC group to bring the young adult T1D community together. My son, Matt, and daughter, Megan, have also volunteered at Breakthrough T1D events and have worked to raise funds for a cure. Clearly, Tyler’s diabetes is an important part of our family’s focus.

JDRF: What motivates you to volunteer so whole-heartedly?

LF-C: When Tyler was first diagnosed, Mark and I told him it was his job to do his very best to control his disease and stay healthy enough so that he could benefit from a cure when it finally came. We said it was our job to do all we could to help find a cure for this disease. We made this pact just a few days after his return from Stanford Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed.  Tyler has done a marvelous job of staying in tight control of his diabetes and keeping fit and healthy. His wholehearted dedication to our “pact,” his own determination to help find a cure for his disease, the difficulties and sacrifices Tyler faces with his diabetes every day of his life and the potential medical problems that loom in his future, are what motivates me to volunteer with Breakthrough T1D and to do so with all my heart.

JDRF: What do you hope to accomplish in your volunteer activities for the Walk?

F-C: I’ve been working for twelve years to try to perfect the logistics of our Silicon Valley Walk.  Changes in the location of the Walk, annual shifts in staff and volunteer personnel, economic considerations plus dozens of other changing dynamics mean that each year’s Walk is unique.  This follows for the other Bay Area Walks as well. But what I suspected was true and was borne out from my observations attending all four Bay Area Walks this year, is that despite the unique qualities of each Walk, there are many logistical similarities among them all. Each Walk has the following common areas: Volunteer Check-In, Registration & Accounting, T-Shirts, Breakfast & Lunch, Community Corner, Kids’ Corner, True Blue and a Stage. Also, each Walk uses many of the same supplies and signage and requires similar equipment, food and drinks. Finally, each Walk requires set-up, staffing and clean-up. It is my hope that I can help standardize all the common logistics for the Walks. My intent here is to aid Staff with the logistics side of each Walk and help free up their time and efforts so that they can concentrate more on fundraising.  Ultimately I hope my efforts will result in not only more efficiently run Walks, but in more funds raised to cure diabetes!

JDRF: What do you want people to know about T1D?

LF-C: I would like people to know that this is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults alike. Life with T1D is a rigorous daily fight requiring vigilance and discipline. Fear is constant. Stress is inevitable. Side effects are always on the horizon. Insulin is not a cure and we need to continue working towards finding a true cure for this terrible disease! Fischer-Colbrie Family pictured: Matt, Lisa, Mark, Megan, Tyler