Fund A Cure with Brett Gill | Breakthrough T1D Syracuse Gala 2026

Brett's Story

When Brett was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a kindergartener, the world already felt upside down. It was the height of COVID — hybrid schedules, constant changes, and uncertainty at every turn. In the middle of that chaos, our family received another life-altering curveball: T1D.

It was a lot to take in. Finger pricks. Carb counting. Injections. Learning how to manage blood sugars while just trying to learn how to read. For any child, that would be overwhelming. For a five-year-old who just wanted to run, play, and compete? It could have been paralyzing.

But not for Brett.

From the time he was a toddler, he gravitated toward anything sports-related. If it involved a ball, a stick, a bat, or a goal, he was all in. Sports weren’t just something he did — they were part of who he was — and Type 1 Diabetes was not going to take that away from him.

In fact, after his diagnosis, he didn’t slow down — he sped up.

Today, Brett is a proud multi-sport athlete. His favorites are box and field lacrosse, where he plays goalie — one of the most pressure-filled positions on the field. He also plays tackle football and competes in wrestling, a sport that demands grit, strength, and relentless determination. Each sport brings its own physical and mental challenges, and managing T1D adds another layer of preparation behind the scenes.

There’s more planning. More monitoring. More work on the sidelines and before the whistle blows. Blood sugar checks before stepping on the mat. Quick calculations between quarters. Adjustments when adrenaline spikes or long practices cause unexpected drops. It’s work most people never see.

But when Brett steps onto the field or mat, he gives it everything he has.

He doesn’t play cautiously.
He doesn’t hold back.
He competes.

And his impact doesn’t stop when the game ends. For the past two years, he has proudly joined me in supporting the Breakthrough T1D rides, cheering me on and helping raise more than $30,000 for research and advocacy. He understands that being strong with T1D isn’t just about managing his own numbers — it’s about being part of something bigger and moving us closer to better treatments and, one day, a cure.

Brett may be short in stature, but there is nothing small about his determination. T1D requires more preparation and more responsibility, but it has never defined his limits. If anything, it has revealed his strength. He is proof that even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos, kids with T1D can chase every goal, defend every shot, fight for every takedown, and live fully.

And he’s just getting started.