The Diabetes Family Connection
The diagnosis came fast.
One day your child is just a kid — running, laughing, unstoppable. The next, you’re drowning in numbers, needles, and a fear that never fully sleeps. You sit in the hospital parking lot, engine running, trying to hold it together. The doctors gave you a plan. They didn’t give you anyone who understood.
You search online at 2 a.m. You scroll through forums that make it worse. You smile at school drop-off like nothing happened. Then you find them — a room full of families who already know. Who don’t need the backstory. Who look at you and say the only thing that matters:
“We get it. You’re not alone anymore.”
2025 Annual Report
Positively transforming life with diabetes through the power of community.
178
Campers at Camp Morris
450+
Participants at Community Events
170
PMA Care Packages Sent
500+
Volunteers Since 2023
21
States Reached
The Challenge
The Diagnosis Changes Everything
When a child is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, the whole family’s world shifts. Suddenly, every meal requires math. Every school day requires a plan. Every night carries the quiet worry of a low that comes while everyone’s sleeping.
But the hardest part isn’t the logistics. It’s the isolation. It’s the feeling that no one around you truly understands — that you’re navigating something enormous, and you’re doing it alone.
No family should have to walk this journey alone.
“Finding The DFC felt like finding a lifeline when we were drowning in the overwhelm of a new diagnosis. It became the place where we found people who truly understood what we were experiencing — as a child with T1D, us as parents and caregivers, and even our daughter as a T1D sibling.”
Kathryn Guy, DFC Parent
That’s why The Diabetes Family Connection exists. Not to manage diabetes — but to make sure every family facing it knows they belong to a community that gets it, because we live it too.
Camp Morris
Where Confidence Grows
Camp Morris is more than a summer camp. It’s the place where a kid with Type 1 Diabetes stops being “the one with diabetes” and starts being just… a kid.
For one week, every camper is surrounded by peers who check their blood sugar before the ropes course, who know what a low feels like mid-kickball, who don’t stare when you pull out your pump at lunch. For many, it’s the first time in their lives they’ve met another person with T1D. That kind of belonging doesn’t just feel good — it rewires how a child sees their diagnosis.
The Progression: Growing Up at Camp
- Dreamers (3rd–5th grade) — Embrace the simple joys of camp while discovering they’re not alone
- Trailblazers (6th–8th) — Take more ownership of their diabetes management alongside peers who get it
- Pathfinders (9th–10th) — Build teamwork and deepen community bonds
- Bravehearts (11th grade) — Push beyond comfort zones and step into leadership
- Leaders-in-Training (12th grade) — Come full circle, becoming the counselors who change the next generation
10 LITs served at Camp Morris in 2025 — young adults who came back to give the same gift they once received.
The Counselors Who Get It
There’s a reason 93% of Camp Morris counseling staff live with Type 1 Diabetes themselves. When a camper is scared to change their site, their counselor doesn’t just explain how — they show their own. When a camper feels embarrassed about a high number, their counselor shares the time theirs hit 400 on a roller coaster. The credibility isn’t taught. It’s lived. 50% of the medical staff at Camp Morris have a direct T1D connection — not just clinical expertise, but personal understanding.
Counselor Spotlight: Abby & Ashton
Both grew up attending Camp Morris year after year, but their paths never quite crossed — Abby was always just a year ahead of Ashton’s age group. It wasn’t until their first summer as co-counselors that they finally met. From that moment on, they became inseparable.
They talk every day. They’ve traveled together. They’re rarely seen without each other. Camp Morris isn’t just a place for kids — it’s a community where adults form deep, lasting connections with people who truly understand life with T1D. Now, as best friends with a shared mission, Abby and Ashton are giving back — raising funds and spreading hope for families impacted by Type 1. Just like The DFC taught them, friendship and community can change everything.
The Access Story
The true cost of sending a child to Camp Morris is approximately $1,500 per camper. The camp fee is $1,000 — already subsidized. But for many families navigating the financial weight of T1D, even that is out of reach. In 2025, DFC awarded 44 scholarships and 133 campers received subsidized tuition — because this community believes every child deserves to experience the magic of camp, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Camp Morris by the Numbers
- 178 campers in 2025
- 50 first-time campers
- 44 scholarships awarded
- 133 subsidized tuitions
- 98% felt more positive about their diagnosis
- 95% are excited to return
- 95% of caregivers saw increased confidence
- 100% of volunteer staff felt empowered
Camp shows children what is possible.
Fall Retreats
Recharging Families
A T1D diagnosis doesn’t just affect the person wearing the pump. It reshapes the entire family. Parents carry invisible weight. Siblings adjust. Teens push back against the one thing they can’t escape.
The DFC Fall Retreats create space for families to exhale. Teens connect with peers who understand the unique frustrations of managing T1D during high school. Parents sit in circles with other parents who don’t need the backstory. For a weekend, no one has to explain themselves.
A Breakthrough Moment
Type 1 Diabetes takes families on a journey no one asks for. For the Gonet family, it started with their son’s diagnosis and the depression that followed. Then he discovered Camp Morris — and found his community. He went from feeling hopeless to embracing a positive mental attitude. The emotional growth after his first week of camp was just the tip of the iceberg.
But the DFC didn’t stop with their son. The Fall Retreat gave the whole family access to knowledge, technology, and something harder to find — other families walking the same path.
“It felt as if our family collectively exhaled a deep breath we didn’t even realize we had been holding.”
The Gonet Family, DFC Campers
Fall Retreats by the Numbers
- 33 teens served · 34 family members served · 16 scholarships awarded
- 100% felt recharged and supported
- 90% felt more confident managing T1D
- 100% of caregivers learned valuable tools
Retreats restore strength and renew hope.
Camp to Communities
Connection Across North Carolina
Not every family can get to Raleigh. Not every family can take a week off for camp. But every family dealing with T1D deserves connection. Camp to Communities brings the DFC experience to families across the state — one-day events, caregiver education sessions, and resource-sharing gatherings in communities where isolation hits hardest.
In 2025, DFC showed up in Hickory, Boone, Durham (Duke Diabetes Day), and Wilmington — and partnered with YMCA properties across three regions to expand access even further.
What Parents Say
“As parents we loved being able to vent about difficult things but also seeing what we can celebrate… It was nice to be able to listen and pay attention and know that our children were in good hands for the day. Our kids had a wonderful time and loved being around other children with T1D.”
“I enjoyed listening to other parents’ perspectives and thoughts about Type 1 Diabetes. It was reassuring to know that we are not alone in this journey and other people go through the same experiences.”
C2C Parent Participants
Camp to Communities by the Numbers
- 450+ campers and caregivers served
- 12 caregiver education sessions
- 1,000+ resources shared
- 100% made a new support connection
- 100% felt more empowered to manage T1D
Community is a lifeline.
PMA Care Packages
PMA in Action — Delivered to Your Doorstep
PMA — Positive Mental Attitude — is more than a phrase at The DFC. It’s the philosophy that runs through every program, every interaction, every care package sealed with a handwritten letter. Launched in October 2023, the PMA Care Package program reaches people who can’t make it to camp, who live outside North Carolina, who just received a diagnosis and feel the walls closing in. Each package contains resources, encouragement, and something no algorithm can replicate: a personal, handwritten letter from someone who understands.
The Letters That Change Everything
When recipients were asked what had the greatest impact on their mental health, the answer wasn’t the educational materials or the branded gear. It was the handwritten letters. A stranger who lives with T1D, sitting down and writing to say: You’re not alone. I know this is hard. Here’s what I want you to know.
“Our son was thrilled to receive this package! He could not wait to share his surprises with his little sister. He kept saying ‘This is for my diabetes!’ I think he felt really cool to have received something just for him and specifically related to his disease. This meant a lot to our family.”
PMA Care Package Recipient
“From a parent’s standpoint, this was a great thing for her to get. Sometimes she feels alone and sad because she has to deal with diabetes while other people don’t. This package made her feel part of a community.” — PMA Care Package Recipient
From a 14-month-old newly diagnosed in Georgia to a 74-year-old veteran of the T1D journey in Oregon — PMA Care Packages meet people exactly where they are.
PMA Care Packages by the Numbers
- 170 packages sent in 2025
- 257 total since launch (October 2023)
- 21 states reached · Ages 14 months to 74 years
- 20 volunteers supporting the program
- 90% of recipients felt less isolated
A package delivers more than materials — it delivers belonging.
Volunteers
The Heart of The DFC
Behind every camp cabin, every care package, every community event, there are people who show up — not because they have to, but because they know what it means. In 2025, 167 volunteers gave their time, their expertise, and their stories to DFC programs. But here’s what makes DFC volunteers different: 95% said they received more than they gave. That’s not a typo. The community DFC builds doesn’t just serve families — it transforms the people who serve them.
Medical Professionals Who Care Personally
Medical professionals from Atrium, Cone Health, Duke, Novant, UNC, Tryon Medical, WakeMed, and more brought clinical expertise to DFC programs. But many of them also brought something more — a personal connection to T1D that made their support feel less like a service and more like family.
One Volunteer’s Story
In September 2024, Chris’s oldest daughter Missouri was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. His family was terrified of what this new world would look like. The overwhelm was immediate — and that’s when they met The DFC. The DFC stepped in, welcomed them with open arms, and showed them they were not alone. Missouri attended events that reinforced her ability to manage her new lifestyle. She made friends who will last a lifetime and built her own support system at every DFC event.
Today, Chris and his family volunteer at The DFC in any way they can — supporting Camp to Communities events as counselors and sharing the message of connection with everyone they meet living with T1D. They would have been lost without The DFC, and they’ll be forever grateful.
— Chris, Missouri’s Dad
Volunteers by the Numbers
- 167 program volunteers in 2025
- 500+ total since 2023
- 80% served at more than one event
- 95% said they received more than they gave
- 100% of DFC leadership donated
When volunteers show up, families thrive.
A Letter from Anne
Dear DFC Families, Friends, and Donors,
The Diabetes Family Connection exists to ensure that no family impacted by a T1D diagnosis walks this journey alone. This past year has been one of growth, connection, and meaningful impact. Together, we have created safe spaces where individuals living with type 1 diabetes and their families feel understood, supported, and empowered to live big while taking T1D along for the ride. From Camp Morris to virtual support groups, our community has shown up for one another time and again, putting connection first and finding the power of a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) through it all.
The true impact of this work cannot be measured by numbers alone. It is seen in a child meeting another person with T1D for the first time. A camper confidently changing their site independently. A student learning to advocate for themselves at school. A parent discovering how approaching diabetes with curiosity instead of judgment can transform their family’s relationship with blood sugar numbers. These moments of confidence, connection, and understanding create life-changing outcomes that last far beyond any single program.
None of this work is possible without the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our volunteers, and the strength of our partners. Because of you, we are continuing to positively transform life with diabetes through the power of community.
With gratitude and determination,
Anne Sutton
Executive Director
The Diabetes Family Connection
Fundraising
Your Generosity in Action
Every dollar donated to The DFC doesn’t disappear into an abstract budget line. It becomes a scholarship. A care package. A counselor at camp. A community event in a town where families have been going it alone. Here’s how this community showed up in 2025.
Project Low to High
135 miles. From the lowest point in the continental United States to the summit of Mount Whitney. In 37 hours. Patrick Mertes and Michael Shelver didn’t just plan a fundraiser — they planned something impossible. Starting at Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, they biked and climbed their way to the 14,505-foot summit of Mount Whitney, navigating altitude, exhaustion, and the ever-present challenges of Type 1 Diabetes. The T1D community answered. 78 donors contributed $23,096 — turning an extraordinary physical feat into extraordinary impact for families who need it.
Impact Fund 2025: You Were the Spark
The theme said it all: “Community is the SPARK that turns grey into color.” The Impact Fund is DFC’s annual giving campaign, and in 2025, this community showed up in a big way.
$93,067
Raised
234
Donors
25
Fundraising Teams
14 teams raised over $500. Medical counselors raised $5,000+. Camp counselors raised $10,000+ — paying forward the gift of connection they once received.
What Your Donation Makes Possible
| Your Gift | What It Funds |
|---|---|
| $50 | A PMA Care Package — materials, resources, and a handwritten letter |
| $250 | A scholarship for a family at a Fall Retreat |
| $500 | A Camp to Communities event in a new region |
| $1,500 | Full cost of sending one child to Camp Morris |
Your Community, Year-Round
The Digital Connection
DFC’s impact doesn’t stop when camp ends or the retreat weekend wraps. Through social media, the community stays connected year-round — sharing stories, resources, and the kind of “me too” moments that make a Tuesday afternoon with T1D feel less lonely.
- 158,900 views
- 26,100 accounts reached
- 2,600 content interactions
- 234,200 views
- 6,700 content interactions
- 12,000 profile visits
Connection doesn’t have a season.
Thank You
To Our Donors and Partners
None of this is possible without you. Every program in this report, every story, every statistic — they exist because people like you chose to invest in families navigating life with T1D. Medical and community partners across North Carolina — including Atrium, Cone Health, Duke, Novant, UNC, Tryon Medical, and WakeMed — and our YMCA partners helped us reach further than ever before.
Our full honor roll of individual donors — across our Champion, Advocate, Supporter, Friend, and Contributor tiers — and our corporate sponsor recognition are being finalized and will be published here soon.
Looking Ahead
2026 and Beyond
The need continues to grow — and so does this community.
Expand Our Reach — Serve more than 1,600 individuals and families across North Carolina through high-quality programs, meaningful support, and community connection that spreads PMA.
Grow Programs Through Strategic Partnership — Strengthen partnerships to expand camp opportunities, including the launch of Adventure Camp and a second week of Camp Morris, increasing access for more families living with T1D.
Strengthen Leadership and Volunteer Engagement — Develop and empower a strong network of volunteers and leaders who foster support, positivity, and lifelong friendships within the DFC community.
Before DFC
Isolated, overwhelmed, uncertain — feeling like no one understands.
After DFC
Connected, confident, empowered — part of a community where every family belongs and every individual can thrive.
Join Us
Every Family Deserves Connection
When a T1D diagnosis leaves families feeling alone and overwhelmed, The Diabetes Family Connection builds community through camps, retreats, and peer support — so every family can thrive. You can be part of the story.
No family should have to walk this journey alone.
thedfc.org · info@thedfc.org · 6325 Falls of Neuse Rd., Suite 35-241, Raleigh, NC 27615
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