Age: 14
Age at T1D diagnosis: 4

There’s one essential component that keeps Emily going despite the obstacles she faces managing her T1D. It’s simple: “Hope for the future, near and far.”

Since 2005, Emily and her family have headed Emily’s Hope, an organization that promotes T1D education and organizes fundraising events. Emily has delivered speeches about daily life with the disease to organizations and companies as well as her classmates, and she participates in parades, garage sales, and picnics that raise funds for T1D research. Emily has also discussed T1D in newspaper articles and on the radio. In addition to her advocacy, Emily is interested in art, playing the trumpet, and running track and field. In the future, Emily would like to study astronomy in college, and she hopes to continue volunteering for JDRF in her community.