'Diabetes Hero,' Summit Athlete To Be Honored

SUMMIT, NJ - Will Schaffer said that while his type 1 diabetes diagnosis at 14 changed his life, it did not change who he was as a person. Now, the college baseball player is being honored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's New Jersey Metro & Rockland County Chapter as an "Everyday Hero" for his attitude.

"I found out that I was nominated for the Everyday Hero award about a year ago last summer and was genuinely shocked. I didn't know that my story was one that inspired people I was simply handling the day to day of this disease," Schaffer told Patch. "However I was extremely honored to be even considered for the award and the spotlight and am gracious I can share my story to others."

The One Dream Gala will take place at Moorland Farm, home of the Far Hills Race Meeting, an annual steeplechase event designed to benefit numerous local health-care charities.

Schaffer said his diagnosis at 14 came suddenly, only about a week before heading off to a seven week summer camp.

"It was a very sudden diagnoses as I was having the symptoms for two weeks or so but had no idea diabetes was in play. When I went for my routine camp physical checkup, my doctor found glucose spots at the bottom of the bottle and advised I go straight to the hospital," he said. "I stayed waiting for my results for almost five hours until being suddenly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Schaffer said he looks at diabetes as something that is just a part of him.

"I have always harped that letting it change who you are is letting it control you and I will not let that happen. Obviously I needed to make some adjustments and change the way I looked at routine tasks that I had been doing for years but I needed to stay true to myself. I love sports and I am an extremely competitive person," he said. "There was no way I was letting diabetes get in the way of that and my goals of playing a collegiate sport. An opportunity to play my freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania on the baseball team was a dream come true and diabetes wasnt going to stop that."

Indeed, Schaffer returned home after completing finals the week of the gala event.

"My life was altered and changes had to be made but nothing that changed who I was as a person," he said.

With over 500 attendees, proceeds from the event will go toward research focused on curing, preventing and treating T1D.

As for children receiving a similar diagnosis Schaffer said his message is simple.

"This is a part of you but this does not define you. You choose how you will go about this annoyance and do not let it control you. Manage it. Handle it," he said. "And you will live a completely normal, incredible life."

JDRF officials said they are excited to share Schaffer's story of perseverance at the Gala. This elegant black-tie event offers an exciting lineup of silent and live auction items, live entertainment and an evening spend with JDRF’s passionate leaders in the philanthropic and business community.

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