Nov 17, 2018 3 min read

Grant Guyton of North Strabane Township was recently selected as the 2018 Ambassador for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). He participated in the ADA Tour de Cure, a run-walk-bike event held to support research and raise awareness of diabetes. As the ambassador, Grant had to speak in front of crowds. “I was really nervous at the first one. I had to speak before each event at the Tour de Cure,” he said. “After the first one, it got easier.” Grant was invited to speak on Thursday at a recognition dinner held at the LeMont in Pittsburgh. The event honored those who raised funds or volunteered for the ADA. Grant raised more than $1,700 through a challenge money war at Canonsburg Middle School through fundraising nights and the Tour de Cure. His speech included information about his efforts and his personal story of living with diabetes. Grant said he felt that his diagnosis changed him in a lot of ways. “It has made me more aware of situations people are in – life-changing situations. Not a lot of people have the experience I have had,” said Grant. “It makes me aware of people going through something hard. It makes me want to talk to them and find out what happened, and how they feel.” Grant spoke openly about his disease and how he shares information to help and to inform others. “I am not really different from anyone else. People always think that people with something wrong with them are different,” he said. “I can do the same stuff others can. I am no different than anyone else. I have diabetes. Everyone has something.”

Grant Guyton of North Strabane Township was recently selected as the 2018 Ambassador for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). He participated in the ADA Tour de Cure, a run-walk-bike event held to support research and raise awareness of diabetes.

As the ambassador, Grant had to speak in front of crowds.

“I was really nervous at the first one. I had to speak before each event at the Tour de Cure,” he said. “After the first one, it got easier.”

Grant was invited to speak on Thursday at a recognition dinner held at the LeMont in Pittsburgh. The event honored those who raised funds or volunteered for the ADA.

Grant raised more than $1,700 through a challenge money war at Canonsburg Middle School through fundraising nights and the Tour de Cure. His speech included information about his efforts and his personal story of living with diabetes.

Grant said he felt that his diagnosis changed him in a lot of ways.

“It has made me more aware of situations people are in – life-changing situations. Not a lot of people have the experience I have had,” said Grant. “It makes me aware of people going through something hard. It makes me want to talk to them and find out what happened, and how they feel.”

Grant spoke openly about his disease and how he shares information to help and to inform others.

“I am not really different from anyone else. People always think that people with something wrong with them are different,” he said. “I can do the same stuff others can. I am no different than anyone else. I have diabetes. Everyone has something.”