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Alex Bush recently graduated from Chico State University with her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Child Development. She is in the process of applying to graduate school for an advanced degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. This is Alex's third Friends for Life conference, and she is very excited to work again in Sports Central. |
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Ryan DeGroff is 24 years old and has been living with type 1 diabetes for 15 years. During this time, Ryan never once allowed it to slow him down; growing up, he played every sport possible! Once Ryan entered high school, he began to focus on football and baseball, continuing to play through college years at Plymouth State University. He discovered that diabetes made him who he was every time he stepped on the field. Finding a way to balance diabetes with his strenuous lifestyle was not easy. Ryan states, "Sharing my struggles and achievements with younger diabetic children is my goal in life." This is Ryan's fifth Friends for Life conference as Sports Central staff! |
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Someone once asked Mike Singletary, former NFL Chicago Bears linebacker, what his favorite part of the game was. He answered, “The opportunity to play.” Since his diagnosis in 1995, Jimmy Dodson has expanded his classic athletic background into various areas of endurance and adventures sports for both the physical and mental challenges, as well as to demonstrate that diabetes is merely a factor that can be managed. Whether it is ice climbing, racing mountain bikes, running the Goofy Challenge, or playing a pick-up game, there aren’t many things he has not tried. He is a Hope on 2 Wheels & Adventures for the Cure team member, as well as being active with Insulindependence and JDRF. Professionally, Jimmy is a certified wildlife biologist and registered forester, and works as the Piedmont region biologist for NC State Parks & Recreation. |
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Liz Dodson loves running, sweating, and especially playing with everyone in Sports Central. Since becoming a part of the type 1 family five years ago through her husband Jimmy, she has been involved with her local chapter of JDRF, and has built an amazing diabetes family. She is excited about actively working with all of the families at this year’s Friends for Life! |
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Betsy King, RN, has been a Certified School Nurse for 16 years. She is currently the Diabetes Education and Support Instructor for her school district. Married to Bill King for 24+ years, she is a strong advocate and supporter of her husband’s marathon training and trainer endeavors. Betsy enjoys working with people of all ages in Sports Central, and is looking forward to meeting you this year at Friends for Life! |
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Bill King was diagnosed with type 1 in 1984 while training for his 4th marathon. In 1988 Bill was entered into DCCT; he is still a participant in the DCCT/EDIC study. Bill ran his first marathon with type 1 in 1996 just five months after starting on pump therapy. He has run 17 marathons including Boston ('97, '98 and '06). Bill has been an advocate, coach and mentor to people with diabetes (and without) on the subject of exercise. He is a faculty member of TCOYD, Insulindependence, and CWD FFL Sports Central. This will be his 12th Friends for Life conference. |
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Philadelphia native Jaime Molyneux is celebrating 5 years of living healthy with type 1 diabetes. Jaime currently works as the Director of International Risk Management at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a certified Zumba® instructor and has been teaching group fitness since 2009. Outside of work and dancing, you can find Jaime jogging, volunteering or filling her passport with new destinations. |
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Rick Philbin, MED, MBA, ATC, is Vice President of Sales for Asante Solutions. Prior to his leadership role at Asante, Rick worked for 12 years at Animas Corporation (2000 thru 2011) as a Territory Manager, Regional Manager, and East Area Field Director. His background is in Athletic Training/Sports Management and he is an individual with Type 1 diabetes. Prior to joining Animas, he managed a comprehensive sports medicine center in the Washington, DC area. He is currently on the board of directors of the Diabetes, Exercise, and Sports Association (DESA), a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for people with diabetes through exercise and physical fitness. Rick has been working with CWD for 11 years presenting to parents, coordinating the sports programming for kids, and writing articles on the CWD website called the Sports Corner. Rick's professional experience also includes working as an Athletic Trainer for a Philadelphia-based sports medicine center, where he worked with professional athletes from the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers. He believes education is paramount for good diabetes management. As an avid exercise enthusiast with Type 1 diabetes, he practices tight management of his diabetes while on an insulin pump. Rick lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife Sharon and daughters Nicole and Andrea. |
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Harold Sanco, CPT, is a former National Aerobic Champion and two time bronze medalist at the National Step Challenge Competition. He has been voted Washington, DC’s “Best Instructor” by Washingtonian Magazine and the Washington Post. With more than 20 years of experience in youth physical education and coaching, he is an internationally acclaimed instructor and trainer who teaches across the United States, Canada and 15 countries for some of the top fitness conferences in the world. His popular “Urban Funk” class has been featured in People, Allure and W magazines. He is AFAA certified and a Master Trainer for Lebert Training Systems. Currently he serves as the Director of Group Fitness for the award-winning Results Gym in Washington, DC and the Director of Fitness for two National Youth groups “Children with Diabetes” and “Workout4Kids.” |
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Ben Stroud, age 25, was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 10 and has been attending CWD conferences since 2003. He started volunteering in Sports Central when he turned 18, shortly after traveling to Italy with the International Diabetes Youth Ambassadors to compete in a friendly soccer tournament against some of Italy’s young teens with type 1. Ben recently graduated with a degree in film from the Los Angeles Film School and currently works freelance movie and television production in Hollywood, CA. |
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James Stroud currently attends Chico State University in California where he is a 4 year member of the Men's Soccer program. As a college athlete, James focuses on exercise and healthy eating habits as an important part of his daily routine. At Friends for Life, he's looking forward to helping kids get active in Sports Central. James has been part of the FFL family ever since his older brother Ben was diagnosed with type 1 over 14 years ago. He can't wait to see old and new friends this summer in Orlando. |
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Ben Tzeel, 21, is a junior at the University of Tampa studying chemistry. Having been diagnosed with diabetes in 1999, Ben states that athletics play a central role in his life, as he plays baseball, volleyball, and trains five days a week. Sports and diabetes are a challenging combination, and Ben loves to pass on his successful experiences managing both while learning more at CWD. This will be his second year as Sports Central staff and he is very excited to be back! |
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