Age: 12
Age at T1D diagnosis: 2

Jackson has lived with T1D for a decade now and, today, he wants one thing: freedom. “I want freedom to be a kid and enjoy life without the 24–hour–a–day, seven–day–a–week job of managing type 1 diabetes,” he says. He’s already fighting for that freedom. Jackson speaks about T1D as a JDRF Youth Ambassador and as a member of student government at his school. He helps his mom with her diabetes support group, and has even appeared in a commercial for a Washington state governor. He plays not just premier soccer, baseball and lacrosse—but also tuba and trumpet. “I want to be a role model for other kids and show them even if you have a hardship in life you can beat it and be anything you want to be,” he says.