Age: 16
Age at T1D diagnosis: 4

Ben knows the power of pairs when it comes to managing T1D. He founded Ben’s Friends Buddy Program, affiliated with the JDRF New York City Chapter, which partners newly diagnosed kids with older kids who have had T1D for a longer time. Ben has been a buddy, mentoring other kids, and he recently began organizing new events for teens and college students who live with T1D in partnership with JDRF. “I want to assure young kids with T1D that their diabetes is not a barrier, rather it is the opposite. I want to be the role model for how to handle diabetes,” Ben explains. In addition to his busy T1D advocacy efforts, he plays tennis competitively, and enjoys basketball, travel and serving as a summer camp counselor.