Breakthrough T1D Walk Montreal raises $300,000 to help cure Type 1 Diabetes

Three Montreal families and their friends are doing what they can to help in the search for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Last month, CityNews spoke to Nyah, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, and her father Dr. Nilesh Amin, who raised funds for Breakthrough T1D, a diabetes research and advocacy organization, through his dental clinic Bella Dentaire.

The families participated in the Together We Walk at Breakthrough T1D Walk at Montreal’s Angrignon Park.

“Personally, a cure would mean the world,” said Paloma, now 11, one of Nyah’s close friends. “It would mean being a carefree kid, not always 24/7 having to think about this disease.”

Paloma was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of eight.

“This is an autoimmune disease,” she said. “Anybody can get it at any time. It’s not because I ate too much sugar or did something to get it.”

Twelve-year-old Chloe, like Paloma, was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at eight years old. She shares her advice for others living with T1D: “It’s going to be harder and it’s going to take some time to change your lifestyle,” she said.

“I would be really happy (to find a cure) because it could just take off so much weight on our shoulders and it would be a lot easier.”

Nyah said she was thrilled to have participated in the walk with her friends and family

“I’m very glad that I have friends that know what Type 1 diabetes is and we share something in common,” Nyah said. “So I can always talk to them.”

The girls and their families walked with the “Dia-Sweeties” team.

“I’ve been raising money and awareness with my two Dia-besties Chloe and Nyah for the Breakthrough T1D Walk,” Paloma said.

Being part of the walk and fundraising efforts is part of what Dr. Amin wants to build as a legacy, he says.

“We loved the walk,” he said. “We loved collaborating with Breakthrough T1D. They’ve held a fantastic event and we’re hoping that we’re going to continue this tradition for many years.”

In May, under the Blue Smiles Challenge held at Bella Dentaire, Dr. Amin raised $1,500 for Breakthrough T1D. And, by June? “We (Team Dia-Sweeties) raised close to $15,000. So thank you to everybody that donated,” he said.

“We were fourth on the list. Considering it’s our first T1D walk, we’re super happy with our team and we’re looking at new ideas for next year and new campaigns and new goals that we want to achieve to bring awareness to T1D.”

Breakthrough T1D Montreal raised a grand total of $300,000 at the walk to help find a cure.