Age: 15
Age at T1D diagnosis: 9

Joey is proud to be ranked as one of the top ten tennis players in his age range in Kentucky. His father also has T1D and Joey says, “He has taught me that I can be anything I want to be and that T1D doesn’t have to take any opportunities away from me.” Joey takes part in JDRF One Walk with his ‘Raising a Racquet for Joey and JDRF’ team. Since 2012, they have raised more than $30,000 for T1D research. Joey also spreads awareness about T1D to his friends, schoolmates, and the local tennis community. “The main reason finding a cure is important to me is that, as good as I’m doing, life sure would be less stressful if there were a cure for diabetes.”

Kentuckians in Washington, D.C. / Mitch McConnell Website / July 24, 201

Dozens of children with Type One diabetes to meet with members of Congress / WLKY / July 9, 2017

Keal Selected as Delegate for JDRF / St. Xavier High School News Archive / June 12, 2017