Breakthrough T1D 2026 South Carolina Gala

I’m honored to serve as co-chair for this year’s Breakthrough T1D Gala. Living with Type 1 diabetes has shaped my life in ways most people don’t see, the daily routines, the constant decisions, and the moments where you just have to push through. That’s why this cause means so much to me. It’s not just about awareness, it’s about real progress for people like me and so many others. I love Breakthrough’s mission and getting to be a small part of helping raise support for research, better treatments, and ultimately a cure. What I’m looking forward to most this year is seeing our community come together. There’s something powerful about being in a room full of people who truly understand, support one another, and are all working toward the same goal.

Tammy Malone, a native of the Upstate, returned to the Greenville area, along with husband, Ron, in 2005. She was looking for ways to support the community when she found Breakthrough T1D, then JDRF, and began volunteering. Along these 20 or so years, Tammy has served on the boards of the WNC Chapter and the Greenville Chapter. She’s been involved as a volunteer for the Gala, Gala Chair, Fund A Cure Chair and done everything from addressing and stuffing mailers to supporting walks. Tammy’s personal connection to T1D is her older son, Matthew, who was diagnosed at nine years old and has now been living with diabetes mellitus for 33 years. It was a big deal for Tammy and the family when Matt was diagnosed and it is still a big deal for everyone who lives with this trying and damaging disease. Tammy says of this journey “every step we take together towards better therapies and, ultimately, a cure, is a step in the right direction that supports those we know and the millions we will never know personally. The research we have all supported has produced meaningful improvements for so many people living with T1D. I believe it is possible and destined we will fulfill our mission of beating this disease and the power it holds over so many. Please join us on Saturday, May 16th in support of so many so that one day we too can say “mission accomplished!!”

In January of 2024, our ten year old daughter, Arden, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. With no family history, we quickly had to learn how to navigate the daily challenges of caring for a child with type 1.

From the beginning, Arden has refused to let type 1 define her. Diagnosed during the middle of a competitive cheer season, she made it her mission to push through and continue enjoying the activities she enjoyed prior to her diagnosis. Now, Arden has her sights set on being a pitcher for her softball team–while also continuing to be a passionate ambassador for the T1D community.

As the only child with type 1 diabetes in her school, Arden is proud, willing, and excited to educate adults, as well as other kids, on what it means to live with type 1. Our family has a passion for spreading awareness about type 1 diabetes and participating in fundraising efforts dedicated to finding a cure one day.

In addition to participating in local events hosted by Breakthrough T1D, our family organized an annual cornhole tournament, Tossing for Type 1. The event is used to spread awareness about what those living with type 1 diabetes experience on a daily basis. All of the proceeds raised at the annual cornhole tournament go toward our Breakthrough T1D walk team, Bold Like Beltz, each year.

Our family is excited and honored to be the Fund A Cure Family for this year’s gala! Arden continues to shine as an amazing example of positivity, strength, and perseverance and we could not be more proud of her. Thanks to generous supporters, the dollars raised will continue to fuel breakthroughs in treatments Arden relies on every single day. While progress has been made, there is still more work to do!

I’m Riley Fincher-Foster and I am a rising senior at the Fine Arts Center. I have been battling T1D for 13 years and this is my third year as emcee for the Upstate Gala. I began volunteering with Breakthrough T1D because I wanted to make a difference, share my story, and spread awareness. Sharing my diagnosis story helped me to realize how much I love the art of story telling and I have spent the past 10 years training and working professionally on stage and screen. Being able to use my talents and passions to help give back to the T1 community that has supported and cheered me on is truly a full circle moment and I am excited to see what type of impact we can make coming together this year!

Jason is the Chief Meteorologist for WLOS, the ABC affiliate in Asheville.
He is not only passionate about the weather but also about helping raise money to fund T1D research!
His son, Hudson was diagnosed with T1D on Halloween when he was only 6.
Hudson is now an active teenager who plays lacrosse and runs track.
Jason, Hudson and his wife, Sandi are very hopeful a cure for T1D will be found one day soon.

When our son, Gavin, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020, Breakthrough T1D became a source of hope, strength, and community for our family. Through this support, we found connection, purpose, and the belief that progress is possible. Serving as Auction Chair is one way to give back – confident that our involvement helps move us closer to cures for type 1 diabetes and a brighter future for all families affected by T1D.

Diagnosed with T1D just before starting high school in 2009, Lillian Fant has been a long-time member of the Greenville T1D community. Now an attorney at Dority & Manning, she is excited to bring her creative eye to this year’s “Mission: Possible” gala decor. A proud Wofford alumna and fan, Lillian enjoys spending her downtime with her dog, Ritzli, and staying active in the local community.

New to the Greenville area but a long-time advocate for the T1D community, Caroline Smith joins this year’s “Mission: Possible” gala as a proud decor co-chair. As a patent attorney at Dority & Manning, she focuses her practice on chemical and life sciences innovation—a field that hits close to home given the constant evolution of diabetes research. Her dedication to the cause is deeply personal, as her husband, Garrett, has lived with T1D for over 18 years. A proud West Virginian and WVU alumna, she is excited to plant roots in South Carolina and contribute to the local mission of finding a cure.

Christiana Purves Lance is a digital advertising executive and passionate advocate for the Type 1 Diabetes community, proudly serving as co-chair of this year’s Breakthrough T1D Gala.

With a career built on driving growth, strategy, and innovation in the digital space, Christiana brings both expertise and purpose in highlighting Breakthrough T1D’s mission of accelerating life-changing research. Her commitment to the cause is deeply personal — having lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 20 years, she is fueled by an unwavering dedication to raising awareness and supporting efforts toward a cure.

In addition, Christiana is a FMG Pro fitness competitor and FMG Pro Bikini Model Champion title holder — proof that the same discipline, resilience, and determination required to manage T1D can drive peak performance in every aspect of life. A proud wife, mother, and community leader, she is honored to unite supporters in pursuit of a future free from Type 1 Diabetes.