As a Young Ambassador for the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation, I was given the opportunity to create an individual service project that benefits something meaningful to me, while making a difference in my community. For me, there was no question about what I wanted my project to be about. As someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes since I was 8 years old, I know firsthand how challenging navigating life can be with a disease that never gives you a day off. I also know firsthand how powerful it is to find a community of people who understand you.
That is why I chose to raise money for the Friends for Life Orlando, Children with Diabetes Scholarship Program. This scholarship lifts the financial burden of attendance, giving families and children affected by type 1 diabetes the chance to experience Friends for Life Orlando—a deeply life-changing experience that offers education, support, and lifelong connections.
Friends for Life Orlando is an annual conference hosted by Children with Diabetes that brings together families affected by type 1 diabetes, and creates lifelong friendships through fun filled and supportive experiences and education about type 1 diabetes.
Friends for Life is more than just a conference. It is a place where families living with type 1 diabetes can come together from all over the world to learn and build lifelong friendships with those who truly understand each other. They also learn about the newest diabetes technology and research. Families can learn how to navigate their lives with type 1 diabetes, and make their journey easier. I have attended this conference for many years, and it has had such a meaningful impact on my life. I wish every child and family living with type 1 diabetes could experience this.
I know that the cost of attendance can stand in the way of a child’s experience, which drove me to take action. To support as many families as possible, I organized both an online and in-person raffle to fund the scholarship program featuring a signed Jon Bon Jovi guitar as the grand prize. From June 16 to August 1, I promoted the raffle through social media and set up a table at this year’s Friends for Life conference, where I could speak directly with families about my project and why this cause matters so much to me. I was even able to talk to families who have benefitted from the scholarship. By the end of my project, I had raised over $7,000 for the scholarship program!
This project taught me that sometimes the causes that are closest to our hearts are the ones that allow us to make the greatest impact. Through this project, I was able to support something that has given me so much while also helping make education and connection more accessible to other families. These are values I believe in deeply, and what makes the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation so meaningful to me. While the signed guitar may have been what brought people to the raffle, the real prize was knowing that every entry helped bring another family one step closer to experiencing the community that means so much to me. Thank you to those who supported my project and helped make such a powerful change!
Written by HLFYA Olivia Talalay
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