Karen McChesney

Karen McChesney was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1990 at the age of five. Her family has been involved with JDRF since her sister’s diagnosis in 1980, and both Karen and her sister attended Clara Barton Camp for years. A graduate of James Madison University, she now works as an Account Manager for SCA Hygiene, and has taken on an active role in JDRF Advocacy. She travels to Washington DC each year for their Government Day event where she speaks to Massachusetts legislators about the importance of continued funding for research. Her niece Ella was recently diagnosed with T1D at just 11 months, which gave Karen the motivation to train for and complete JDRF’s Ride to Cure in 2015.