Age: 12
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

Tennis player, artist, singer, honor roll student and video game expert are just a few ways to describe Leah. She also lives with T1D and advocates for others with the disease. Within just a week of her diagnosis, Leah and her mom visited their local JDRF chapter asking how they could get involved. Since then, Leah has become an ambassador, has spoken out about the disease publicly, formed her own JDRF Walk team, “Team Monkey,” and participated in her school’s JDRF Walks. Every November, National Diabetes Awareness Month, Leah sends out Thanksgiving cards to thank her supporters, inform about T1D advancements and encourage them to jointhebunch.net (follow her Team Monkey website) For a recent birthday, she invited guests to donate funds to JDRF in place of birthday gifts.