Yours truly, last year:

I’ve known Kira, the daughter of my good friends Ron and Irene Lue-Sang, since she was a day old. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) nearly a decade ago. Since 2015, the Lue-Sang family have helped raise funds to end T1D by walking in the annual Breakthrough T1D Walk (formerly JDRF).

It’s no longer “nearly,” notes the family:

This is a milestone year. Kira has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 10 years.

Kira’s off to college next year. I’ve watched her grow from a rambunctious girl into a beautiful, smart, thoughtful, and talented young woman. She hasn’t allowed T1D to slow her down one iota.

As they have every year since Kira’s diagnosis, the Lue-Sangs are again raising funds as part of their “commitment to do whatever we can to help develop new treatments—and ultimately a cure—for this currently incurable disease.” They’ll participate in the Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Walk on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

They’ve set a public goal of raising $5,000, and they’re about 70 percent of the way. I’d like to see them achieve it, so I’m doing a donation match challenge this year. I’ll match, dollar-for-dollar, any donations you make to the Lue-Sang T1D team between now and October 18, 2025 (the Saturday before the Walk), up to $1,000. You donate $5, I match your $5—doubling our impact. Just point me to your name on the team leaderboard or send me a screenshot showing your donation (redact any sensitive info, please!). Prefer to remain anonymous? Use “Kira’s Match” as the “Recognition Name” when completing the form.

I recommend donating to a specific walker on the team. Once a walker reaches specific fundraising levels, they’re granted “V1P” status, which awards them with a variety of swag and grants them access to a “special V1P lounge for an exclusive celebration experience.”

(Kira has already achieved V1P status, so I’m directing my donations to Kira’s sister, Tyrine, so they can enjoy the V1P experience together.)

Your donations help fund the research and scientific breakthroughs for T1D treatments and bring us closer to a cure. Last year, Ron told me:

One hundred years ago, science had barely discovered insulin. Before that, people with Type 1 Diabetes just wasted away a few months or years after diagnosis.

Ten years ago our standard of care was pricking Kira’s fingers to check blood sugar levels at least four times a day and injecting insulin by hand. We’re grateful for the advances technology has brought, including modern insulin, continuous glucose monitors, and insulin pumps. But we believe—it’s an article of faith—that there are still more advances to come, if only we pursue them.

Contributing to Breakthrough T1D helps them pursue those advances. Any amount helps, whether it’s $5, $10, or $100. And this year, your contribution will have double the impact.

Once again, the Lue-Sang family thanks you, and I thank you.