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I first came to Camp Nejeda in 1996 for family camp, not yet realizing how deeply it would shape my life as someone connected to type 1 diabetes. I returned as a camper living with T1D, worked as a counselor, volunteered in different roles over the years, and joined full-time in 2016 as the Director of Programs.

Across every role, Camp Nejeda has been a constant - a place where living with type 1 diabetes is not something that sets you apart, but something that connects you.

Camp Nejeda is often described as a “home,” and for good reason. For many campers, it may be one of the first places where they are surrounded by others who truly understand life with T1D: the daily decisions, the devices, and everything in between. That shared experience creates something rare: belonging without explanation.

One moment that has stayed with me came during staff training a few years ago. A first-time counselor, new to Nejeda but not to diabetes, shared at the end of the week that while many organizations call themselves a “family,” they had already formed real family-like bonds here in just a few days. It was a powerful reminder of how quickly connection happens when people share that lived experience.

That sense of belonging is where everything starts. When campers feel understood in their diabetes, they begin to feel normal. From there, confidence grows, independence follows, and what begins at camp continues to shape how they live with T1D long after the summer ends.

This is why Camp Nejeda matters.

Our Walkathon helps ensure that no child or family is turned away because of cost. Every dollar raised supports access to camp and strengthens the experiences that help campers feel seen, supported, and capable.

If you believe in the power of belonging to change how someone lives with a chronic and invisible illness, please consider supporting our Walkathon. Your donation of any size helps create another summer where campers can feel understood, build confidence, and carry that strength home with them.