Age: 8
Age at T1D diagnosis: 1
This is Chase’s second year serving as a Youth Ambassador for JDRF with his sister, who also lives with T1D. The siblings have advocated for awareness together, organizing a JDRF Walk at their school and inviting a JDRF representative to speak about T1D. A well–rounded child, involved in Scouts, gymnastics and LEGOs, Chase’s ambition is to play for the NFL. Chase’s hopes for a cure for the disease are related to his sister, too. If a cure is developed, he says, “I will be able to sleep all night, sleep over at a friend’s house, and eat whatever I want. I would like to have a normal life. All the funding for type 1 diabetes is making great advances for me and my sister to have a better, healthier life.”