Welcome to the third post of our seven-part Walk Team Spotlight series! We will highlight one Breakthrough T1D One Walk team each week between August 17th and October 2nd.

This week’s team is “Ceci & Company” from the Central Illinois Walk site.

Who are you walking for?
We walk for our daughter Cecilia.

Why did you pick your team’s name?
“Ceci & Company” was picked because she is not alone in her fight with type 1 diabetes. She has her family, friends, and classmates as her “company” in her journey with Type One.

How long have you had your team?
Our first walk was in 2003, which was two years after her diagnosis. So this year will be our 14th walk

What is your favorite memory from your first walk?
Seeing the sea of colors with all of the t-shirts that represented teams that were at the Walk in support of a child with Type One.

What are some of your Walk Day traditions?

Over the years the tradition has changed as Cecilia has gotten older. When she was younger, Ceci’s Grandma would have her, her brother, and her cousins over the night before and they would draw and create the signs for around our area at the Walk. On walk day we always have balloons and our signs – we still use these signs to this day. We also have a bright pink flag with the Breakthrough T1D sneaker on it that a friend of ours made and is always brought along and held high!

After the walk, the entire team is invited to Grandma and Grandpa Boore’s house for dinner and fun. Our entire family is always involved in the walk planning and volunteering on Walk day: from Grandparents, parents, Aunts, and close friends.

Did you miss our previous Walk Team Spotlights? You can find them here and here.