Each year, Breakthrough T1D selects a family to be the Youth Ambassador for the Breakthrough T1D One Walk. The Breakthrough T1D One Walk Youth Ambassador puts a face on T1D and helps to engage corporate and family teams in One Walk and encourages fundraising success. This program gives the Youth Ambassador (YA) many opportunities to speak about Breakthrough T1D, tell their T1D story, talk about Walk participation, ask for support and represent others with T1D.
This year, we have two Youth Ambassadors! Meet Graelen (13, right) and Crue (7, left) Kwiatkowski. The Kwiatkowski family has two children affected by type 1 diabetes and they are courageously sharing their story. They were both diagnosed with T1D at a young age. Although they’ve been fighting this disease for the majority of their lives, this brother-sister duo doesn’t let T1D stop them from doing what they love! Graelen and Crue both enjoy staying active by playing sports and going on adventurous outings with their family. They both attend St. Mary School where they get to learn about their favorite subject, science!
Graelen and Crue enjoy Breakthrough T1D’s One Walk because all of their family and friends come out to support them and help raise money to find a cure for type 1 diabetes! Graelen shared that by being a youth ambassador, she is “hoping to make an impact, and raise awareness to show people how much of an impact diabetes has on my life, my brother’s life, and the countless others who have this disease.” Once there is a cure for T1D, both Graelen and Crue will be so happy to eat without having to dose and poke beforehand.
We are so excited to have Graelen and Crue as our One Walk Youth Ambassadors this year and can’t wait to hear more about their fight against T1D!
Meet Graelen Kwiatkowski!
Age: 13 years old
Favorite Sports: Volleyball, basketball and softball
Favorite Thing about T1D: It makes her unique and she gets to eat fruit snacks and skittles when she’s low.
Least Favorite Thing about T1D: Having to dose and poke every time she eats.
As an ambassador, Graelen hopes to show people how much of an impact a cure would make on people with T1D.
Meet Crue Kwiatkowski!
Age: 7 years old
Favorite Sports: Basketball, football and baseball
Favorite thing about T1D: Eating fruit snacks when he’s low
Least favorite thing about T1D: Changing his sensor for his CGM and changing the pod for his pump.
As an ambassador, Crue hopes to meet other kids with diabetes and get the chance to show people the struggles he deals with everyday due to T1D.
