Sarasota resident raises awareness of diabetes

Twelve-year old Emmabella Rudd is a team leader both on and off the field. The Indiana native, who plays forward on her Braden River Soccer Club team, is a delegate for Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Children’s Congress. Rudd is one of eight children with diabetes representing the Florida JDRF chapter in Washington, D.C.

When she was 5 years old, Emmabella’s doctor diagnosed her with Type 1 diabetes (15% of children living in the U.S. have Type 1 diabetes). Since her diagnosis, Rudd has raised more than $120,000 for JDRF.

“We want to find a cure as soon as we can,” she says.

Emmabella has volunteered for JDRF since her diagnosis, and she started applying to be a delegate when she was 6. In January 2013, Emmabella became a delegate for Florida. Children’s Congress delegates range from age 4 to 17 and represent all 50 states.

JDRF Children’s Congress delegates represent their local chapter for two years and visit Washington, D.C., about twice a year. There they meet with members of Congress to share their stories and promote finding a cure.

Sharing her story to raise awareness is not new to Emmabella. The Sarasota Middle School seventh-grader has been speaking in public about diabetes since she was a child, and she often meets with U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, and Rep. Thomas Rooney, R-Okeechobee.

“It can be scary,” says Emmabella of meeting with politicians on Capitol Hill. “But some have seen me grow up. They’ll say, ‘I remember when you were little!’”

This weekend, Emmabella will lead more than 100 “Emmabella’s Believers” in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. The team’s goal was $10,000; it has raised more than $18,000. Rudd says the support of friends and family has been inspiring.

“Everyone wants to help,” she says.

When she has time, Emmabella paints acrylics of animals and plays soccer. Although her diabetes limits her to certain foods and activities, Rudd says she doesn’t try to let that stop her from doing what she loves. She is determined to help find a cure, as well as educate the public.

“It’s hard to stop me,” she says.

If you go
What: 2014 JDRF 5K Walk to Cure Diabetes
When: 8 a.m. Saturday, April 12
Where: Lakewood Ranch Main Street, 8100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
Call: 685-6875

Contact Harriet Sokmensuer at [email protected]