Hometown

What’s your story?
Amanda is just starting to experiance the life of a 16 year old and so far, her life has been anything but ordinary! Looking back, she wouldn’t change a thing! Born Amanda Louise Sullivan, but better known as “Sully”, she was diagnosed with diabetes when she was only 23 months old! A wee one! Amanda was on needles until she was 8 years old when she became the first person in her city to go on the Insulin Pump (yep, she’s pretty much a legend in Kamloops! ).  Amanda goes to SKSS (GO TITANS!) and loves sports! She plays volleyball, soccer (both for her school and rep teams) and is planning on playing Rugby for the first time this year! Amanda’s passion is music–sing it, write it, love it!  Her family is crazy but she loves them to pieces. She’s met some of the coolest people from all over and loves chillin’ with her homies and making the best memories! Amanda loves life and is always expanding and exploring!

Amanda is a Youth Ambassador for Juvenile Diabetes through the JDRF.  She finds this a rewarding position and is  very proud of it–a chance to inspire hope for a cure! She’s had the opportunity to meet some of the people who are closest to her heart because of diabetes and for that reason alone, all of her pain and hardship is worth it!

Amanda has gone to the Diabetes session at Camp Elphinstone for over 6 years.  There she has made memories and friendships that she will have forever.  One of the coolest things that she’s got to do because of diabetes definitely would be hanging out with the crew from ConnectedinMotion! Also, Amanda has been told that she saved the life of her childhood best friend when she diagnosed her with diabetes and took her to the hospital.  She’s come to the belief she was given the disease for a reason, so when things get tough, she thinks of all the hope that there is out there and everything that has happened in her life! Without it, she wouldn’t be who she is today!

What keeps you ‘in motion’?
Passion keeps Amanda driven and the chase for her dreams keeps her running! She’s always down for an adventure!  This summer she graduated from a White Water Kayaking Camp!! She is proud to say that she’s a ‘volleyball chick’, a ‘go get em soccer freak’, a snowboarder and a little on the wild side.! Endurance, motivation and perseverance!

Hometown

What’s your story?
Margaux is 20 years old and has had diabetes for 3 years.  She has been on the pump for 2 of those years and also use a CGM! Margaux completed two years at the University of Victoria but has decided to take some time off from her studies and head out on an adventure!

The coolest thing Margaux has done while living with diabetes is the very adventure that she is on right now! Margaux is living in Paris for a year as an aupair for a French family. She packed up her life and moved to France in order to see the world and to take the time to figure out what she is going to do with the rest of her life.  Although having diabetes didn’t give her this opportunity, it sure didn’t stop her!!

What keeps you ‘in motion’?
To stay in motion, Margaux likes to run and play volleyball.  After the trip to Garibaldi Provincial Park with Connected in Motion, Margaux has a new found interest in hiking and backpacking!  She also loves to travel as well as to dance and sing (but only when she’s by herself!)

Hometown

Christina’s hometown, and the place she still calls home, is North Vancouver, British Columbia.

What’s your story?

Christina has had diabetes for 8 years and is the proud user of Medtronic insulin pump!  Her hobbies include hiking, swimming, running, argentine tango, salsa, horseback riding, photography and writing.

What keeps you ‘in motion’?

While living with diabetes, where in the world has Christina been?  Perhaps a better question would be where hasn’t Christina been?  Christina has traveled through most of Europe and parts of South America. She has swam in every ocean she had the opportunity to swim in, has zip-lined from one tree to the other, has walked with wolves in British Columbia, has fed a lion in Spokane, Washington.  Christina believes: ‘diabetes ain’t never slowin’ me down!’

Anna was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. She goes to Victoria High School and lives with my mom, dad and her 18 year-old brother, Nick.

What’s your story?

She has had diabetes for 8 years, and is now 16 year old.  She uses a Animas pump and loves it!  Since this summer, Anna’s A1C has dropped to 8.8%, the lowest its been in 3 years! Congratulations, Anna!

Anna plays basketball and volleyball at her high school with her best friend Raelynn.  When I’m not at home you can usually find me at Raelynn’s house or hanging out downtown.

When Anna was 9 or 10, she was the youth ambassador for the JDRF on Vancouver Island.  During her time as the youth ambassador, Anna got to speak to lots of ‘big’ people and to share a bit of her ‘story’.  Anna even got invited to a diabetes lab in Vancouver, BC to take a tour and get a first hand glimpse at the progress towards curing diabetes!

What keeps you ‘in motion’?

When asked to describe the coolest thing she’s done as a person with diabetes, Anna told us, without a doubt, that it was hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park with Connected in Motion.  Anna also went on another trip with PowerToBe in 2009.  She really tried to make the most of her experiences while on the Garibaldi hiking trip and had a great time!

Anna plays lots of different sports!  She enjoys basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, field hockey and biking!  For the past two years, Anna has been awarded three MVP awards and a Most Improved Player award with her basketball team!

Hometown

Daryl has called Langley, British Columbia home for the past 16 years.  He currently attends Lanlgey Fundamental Middle and Secondary School (LFMSS).

What’s your story?

Daryl has had Diabetes for 3 years.  He currently is on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) but is looking into switching to the pump in the upcoming months.

Daryl has six family members and is the only diabetic among them!

The Coolest thing that Daryl has done while living with diabetes was heading out to hike the mountains of Garibaldi Provincial Park with a group of other youth with diabetes–A trip he took with Connected in Motion!  After completing the hiking trip, he used his new found skills and returned to Garibaldi Provincial Park where he reached the summit of the Black Tusk.

What keeps you ‘in motion’?

Daryl’s hobbies include snowboarding/skiing and playing competitive sports, especially basketball, volleyball, rugby and soccer.

Daryl keeps in motion by knowing that he can be a better person by taking advantage of his diabetes.  He uses his new found healthy lifestyle to push himself to greater athletic accomplishments.

Hometown
Prince George, British Columbia

What’s your Story?
Iain is currently a student at UNBC and a competitive 5 pin Bowler! Iain loves traveling and finding new adventures. Recently he traveled from Prince George, British Columbia to Haliburton, Ontario to attend Connected in Motion’s second annual Winter Slipstream.

In 2009, Iain joined a group called TEAM ONE who fundraised money for the JDRF and hiked the Inca Trail in Peru!

What keeps you ‘In Motion’?
Iain enjoys bowling, cycling, playing tennis, hiking and driving long distances.

Hometown
Victoria, British Columbia

What’s your Story?
Stephen loves the outdoors and adventures! He is the founder of Points West Adventure and is a wilderness guide. Stephen has traveled all over the world to ski, competed in several half marathons and triathlons.

What keeps you ‘In Motion’?
Stephen’s passion is skiing, but he also enjoys running, climbing and working out.

Words of ‘Betes Wisdom.
If you dream it, you can do it!