Emily Wilson is a 26-year-old multisport athlete and avid outdoor enthusiast from Wanaka who also has type one diabetes. Emily is the current International Diabetes Federation Young Leader for New Zealand, and describes herself as a fun-loving, determined person, who wants to grow and improve herself through new experiences.
Teaching, facilitating and organising events for youth for the last 7 years, Emily is passionate about health, traveling and empowering young people to be the best they can be.
In November 2017, Emily begins a multi-sport tour of New Zealand with an interactive type 1 teddy bear called Jerry. Emily’s 5 week journey, during Diabetes Action Month, covers the full length of New Zealand and includes kayaking, rafting, road and mountain biking, paddle boarding and any other means of self-powered travel that might suit the terrain!
Throughout the tour, Emily will be joining local diabetes teams in major centres and hosting a series of Jerry’s Teddy Bear Picnic’s. Children are encouraged to bring their own teddies, a friend and a plate to share. Emily’s focus will be on 'Know the Difference' and she hopes Jerry will help young and old alike better understand type one and differentiate between type one and type two diabetes.
Emily is also determined to reinforce the message that diabetes does not need to prevent people from living full lives and hopes she can inspire young people to get outdoors, travel, explore and believe that anything is possible, even with type one diabetes.
Emily believes the most important story is the one we tell ourselves, and in our stories, we can go anywhere! Emily invites other T1’s to join her as she travels throughout New Zealand, or catch up with her during her travels.
Go to International Diabetes Federation Young Leader on facebook for daily video updates:) She hopes to see you out there!!
