Join Julia, the 2015 Lancaster Walk to Cure Diabetes Ambassador, as she takes steps to create a world without T1D on May 17, 2015 at Lancaster County Central Park. Register today at walk.jdrf.org.

Here is Julia’s story, in her own words:

My name is Julia O’Leary, I am 16 years old and I attend Lancaster Catholic High School. I enjoy playing soccer, skiing, and spending time with my friends and family. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on August 5, 2008. When I was diagnosed, my life certainly changed for the worse. I was only nine years old and I was scared and confused. I didn’t know what was happening or what was going to happen to me.

I can honestly say that from the time I was diagnosed my condition has hardly improved. High and low blood sugars are constant and there’s no putting it on “pause.” They come at the worst possible times and the side effects are horrible. Nausea, dizziness, headaches, severe cramping, shakiness, severe hunger and thirst, and sweating are just a few. The list is truly endless and the possibilities for the future are even more frightening: eye damage, kidney, heart, and liver damage, and of course, death.

T1D research is crucial right now. There multiple advances in T1D treatment on the horizon such as the artificial pancreas and encapsulation, but it will require a lot of funding before these advancements are available for T1Ds. For myself, as well as all Type 1 Diabetics, these advancements could mean that we have the chance to lead normal lives again. We could feel normal again.

I have hopes and aspirations for the future, just like everyone else. The difference is that there is no guarantee that I will have the opportunity to achieve them. There is no guarantee that I will even wake up in the morning or live to see another day. I fear knowing and the unknown. I fear what I do know about my future, about the possibility of complications. Most of all, I fear oblivion. I will not simply stand back and watch other people try to make a difference for the T1D community. I want to be involved and make things happen. I want people to know my name and my story. I want to make a difference.

When I am older, I want to become a doctor, possibly a surgeon or dermatologist. I want to raise a family and have children who are free of T1D. I want to live on a farm with lots of animals and horses. Most of all, I want happiness.

And that is why I walk. I walk to make a difference for myself and all T1Ds by raising money to fund the essential research that will lead to better management of T1D until there is ultimate a cure.  I walk and raise funds to secure the future – not only for myself, but for everyone burdened with Type 1 Diabetes.

You can join me at the Lancaster Walk to Cure Diabetes on May 17, 2015 at Lancaster County Central Park.

Register your team today at walk.jdrf.org, or call the JDRF office for more information at 717-901-6489. I hope that I can count on you to help me turn type one into type none!