24-year-old Tanya has been part of the JDRF family for a long time. She started off as a Walk fundraiser, after her diagnosis twelve years ago. “I have a close family, and my sisters and I all reached out to our friends to donate. We ended up raising over $7000 for the Walk to Cure Diabetes one year.”
“I knew I wanted to do more though, and share my experience of living with T1D with other people who were struggling. I signed up to be a JDRF Peer Support Mentor, which I have found to be a really rewarding experience. I always think that it’s better to hear honest truths from someone who understands and can provide a bit of motivation and support along the way.”
Along with this, Tanya felt passionately about starting a blog. The Leveled Life focuses on being a voice for diabetics and raising awareness for T1D. Her passion to educate and inspire people around her who may be in the same position, motivates her to conquer her own challenges.
She’s also taken her dedication to JDRF and the T1D community one step further, and has been a staff member at JDRF for eighteen months.
“I felt like it was important for me to play a role in an organisation that could bring a cure for T1D. I wanted to make an impact on the T1D community, and share my own experiences and knowledge with JDRF.”
This year, she’s taking her dedication to JDRF one step further…6,300 steps to be exact! She’s signed up to participate in Stadium Stomp Sydney, for which JDRF is the charity of choice. “Stadium Stomp is just one more way that I can raise money and awareness for a cause that’s so close to my heart.”
“My diagnosis at the age of twelve was overwhelming. There was an overload of information and while I gave myself injections right from the start, it was still difficult to live with. I had my first breakdown a few months in when I realised type 1 diabetes would be part of the rest of my life. I would never get a break.”
“But it’s part of my life, and I have to make the best of it. That’s why I’m so involved with JDRF and the T1D community. That’s why I don’t let T1D stop me from taking on this epic stair-climbing challenge – I can conquer 6,300 steps in the SCG!”
“I really encourage everyone to sign up for Stadium Stomp and to join me in the stadium on the day. I’m no expert or fitness guru, but I think we can do it together! Even if you feel like you can’t do the physical challenge, you can still attend on the day, sit in the stands, and cheer us stair-climbers on. Your presence there can help raise awareness of T1D!”
Want to get involved?
Sign up to Stadium Stomp: http://www.stadiumstomp.com.au/SCG
Create a Stadium Stomp fundraising page: http://stadiumstomp2015scg.gofundraise.com.au/
Donate to Tanya’s Stadium Stomp fundraising page: http://stadiumstomp2015scg.gofundraise.com.au/page/IlkiwT
Contact JDRF to volunteer on the day: Kate Reid, kreid@jdrf.org.au
Visit Tanya’s T1D blog: http://www.theleveledlife.com/