About Us
Our Story
Camp1 was established by three moms of T1D kids who shared a common goal: To bring T1D youth and their families together to create a community of understanding, education and support, and have lots of fun!
Co-Founders Katie Doyle, Melissa Laskey and Anne Marie Anderson collectively share over 50+ years of lived experience managing T1D. Through Camp1, they have cultivated a valuable network of volunteers, supporters, medical professionals and organizations to serve the diabetes community.
Camp1 is offered through CampType1, a 501c3 non-profit organization that was established in 2024.
CAMP1’S MISSION
Camp1’s mission is to provide children and families living with Type 1 Diabetes with Confidence, Community, and Connections.
Confidence in managing T1D builds communication, trust, and independence for kids and their families.
Community of people who understand and know what it is to live with T1D; and
Connections to provide support, help, and resources for living with T1D.
ABOUT OUR LOGO
Camp1’s logo was designed to show kids living with T1D that they are not alone on their journeys with this disease. The dotted line represents the journey (including some of its ups and downs!) and the energy that comes from building self-confidence and new friendships. The arrow symbolizes a sense of exploration and points to a positive, upward direction. The number 1 suggests the amazing prize at the end of the treasure map and the rewards of being a part of Camp1!
Our UN‘BEE’LIEVABLE MASCOT
The Camp1 Bee reminds all of us to “bee” something great! Every year, Camp1’s programs and activities focus on a different aspect of living with Type 1 Diabetes, like “Bee Strong,” “Bee Confident,” “Bee Balanced,” and so much more!
OUR IMPACT
In just 3 years, the number of registered Camp1 campers tripled!
Camp1 added a second location in Year 3, expanding our reach to the northern suburbs of Chicago.
Parents report that their child’s confidence in managing their diabetes nearly doubled after just one week of camp.
100% of parents trust Camp1’s ability to care for their child.
100% left with smiles on their faces!
OUR TEAM
Melissa Laskey
Co-Founder and Board President
Melissa has been an active T1D advocate and mentor since 2002, when her son Michael was diagnosed as a toddler while she was pregnant with her son William. Type 1 diabetes also touches her broader family, including her brother and cousin who were diagnosed as young adults.
Dedicated to building meaningful connections wherever she goes, Melissa has spent over two decades uniting T1D families through shared experiences, mentorship, and local events. As Community Engagement Chair on the Breakthrough T1D Illinois Board, she has been integral in leading and organizing the programming for the Breakthrough T1D Community Summits for more than 15 years, alongside organizing over 20 years of Breakthrough T1D Walks. Her extraordinary dedication, outreach, and generosity of spirit have earned her distinct recognition across the community, including a nomination for the prestigious 2023 Carol and Erwin Lurie Award for her commitment to supporting the Breakthrough T1D mission through community outreach.
In 2008, Melissa co-founded Touched by Type 1 - Chicagoland, a support group that has grown into a thriving online and offline community. She holds a BS in Business from Wake Forest University and an MBA from St. Edward’s University. Outside of her leadership work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, walking her sweet dog Jazzy, and practicing Taekwondo, where she is a 4th Dan Master Instructor.
Katie Doyle
Co-Founder and Board Secretary
Katie Doyle is a sales and marketing professional with Type 1 Diabetes who is dedicated to raising awareness and providing education to support those affected by this disease.
Katie’s personal experience with T1D made her realize the importance of community and education, and her daughter Liz’s diagnosis at age 12 fueled Katie’s passion for advocating for diabetes management tools and support systems. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Diabetes Education Camping Association (DECA), and works with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) and Camp1 to advocate, educate, develop and support the T1D community. Katie and her family also participate in Breakthrough T1D’s Rides every year.
Katie graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, where she earned a BA in Sociology. She held leadership positions at consumer product companies, including Pepsi and Mars, and currently serves as the AVP, Corporate Philanthropy, at City of Hope, whose mission is to make hope a reality for those touched by cancer and diabetes.
Anne Marie Anderson
Co-Founder and Board Treasurer
Anne Marie is committed to building a supportive T1D community through day camps, networking, and advocacy. Although her formal education was in finance, her true calling is making a positive impact on those affected by T1D.
After her daughter, Tess, was diagnosed with T1D, Anne Marie and Tess began visiting state and national Congressional representatives to advocate for diabetes awareness. Shortly after meeting Melissa Laskey at a Chicago T1D event, they started a support group for parents and families of children with T1D.
In her free time, Anne Marie enjoys cycling and spending time with her dog, Luna, and her grandkids. She is grateful for the chance to serve her community and is actively involved in rescue relief efforts across the country with Samaritan’s Purse, a 501(c)(3)organization.
Dr. W.P. Zeller, Pediatric Endocrinologist
Board Member and Medical Advisor
Dr. Zeller is a founding physician of Academic Endocrine Metabolism and Nutrition and the Illinois Association of Clinical Endocrinology (ILACE), and retired Professor of Pediatrics and Physiology from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine.
As a former Pediatric Endocrinologist at Advocate Medical Group, Dr. Zeller cared for many of the children who have attended Camp1. He brings his beloved smile and bowtie to the T1D community with an open and caring heart.
Dr. Zeller provides his medical expertise, leadership and commitment to youth health as a Camp1 Board Member, ensuring that the organization and its mission are grounded in care, safety, and clinical integrity.
Anthony (Tony) Bria
Board Member and Community Liaison
Tony Bria is a finance professional with deep experience in global markets, volatility instruments, options strategies, equity portfolio construction, and automation of productivity tools.
Tony remains active in the non-profit community and currently spends his time leading events and galas for several causes that are near and dear to his heart. In addition to serving as a Board Member for Camp1, he also serves on the Board of the Special Olympics in Chicago, championing inclusion and empowerment through sport.
Tony brings expertise in mentorship and fundraising, as well as strategic insights, relational generosity, and community connections.
Dr. Sanjay Bansal
Camp1 Medical Director
Dr. Bansal is a pediatric endocrinologist with more than 15 years of experience specializing in diabetes care. He is passionate about caring for children and teens living with Type 1 Diabetes and recognizes the importance of supporting their whole well-being: mind, body, and soul.
He believes diabetes care is a team effort that extends beyond the child to include parents, caregivers, and the broader community. A strong supporter of Camp1, Dr. Bansal sees it as a fun, welcoming, and meaningful experience where kids with diabetes can build friendships, connect with others who understand their experiences, and simply enjoy being kids.
Wendy Rutman
Communications and Content Specialist
Wendy joined the T1D community when her son Jason was diagnosed during his senior year in high school. Her volunteer work with Breakthrough T1D led her to Camp1, where she helps to share Camp1’s impact on campers and their families, raise awareness about its programs and events, and develop content for the camp’s website and social media channels.
Wendy attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison and received her master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University. She has worked with several non-profit organizations, including Susan G. Komen, Corporate Leadership Center, and Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.
Wendy enjoys volunteering as a reading tutor for elementary school students, as well as traveling with her family, and baking.
Taryn Hutson
Visual Brand Manager
Taryn joined Camp1 in 2025, bringing her passion for creativity and design to the organization. Through her boyfriend's lifelong experience with Type 1 Diabetes, she saw firsthand that even those who have lived with T1D for years will face challenges managing the condition. Drawn to Camp1's inspiring and empowering mission, Taryn wanted to use her creative skills to help build a community where youth with T1D feel supported. She oversees Camp1's visual branding through graphic design, website design, and social media content creation.
Taryn graduated from Iowa State University in 2022 with degrees in Marketing and Management. Outside of Camp1, she enjoys exploring different creative outlets, including painting, and staying active through weightlifting.
Collin Walzer
Web Developer & SEO Specialist
Lisa Katzenberger
Camp1 Newsletter Writer & Coordinator
Lisa Katzenberger is an author who has written several children's books, including It Belongs to the World: Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin. She is also a faculty member of The Writing Barn, where she teaches picture book writing courses.
Lisa's son, Ryan, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was seven years old. While Ryan volunteers at Camp1 as a junior counselor, Lisa is responsible for writing our newsletter, sharing news and updates about the Camp1 community, summer camp and programs.
Lisa lives in La Grange, IL with her husband and two children.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Michael Laskey
Michael Laskey was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2002 at 18 months old. Despite this, Michael hasn't let TID stop him from pursuing his passions in engineering, sports, cooking, or adventuring! He is currently a PhD student at Iowa State studying electrical engineering while learning to manage all the adulting aspects of living with T1D.
Michael has been advocating for T1D since he was very little, starting with the family Breakthrough TID (formerly JDRF) walks at the lakefront in Chicago. He has also spoken at Breakthrough teen panels and family events and continues to support the Breakthrough T1D walk team through his annual update videos. Between attending both the American Diabetic Association's (ADA) Camp Discovery and the Riding on Insulin snowboarding camp as a child and being a counselor for both as a teen, diabetes camps have been a huge part of his T1D career!
William Laskey
William Laskey is a drummer and songwriter from Nashville, who has a sibling with Type 1 Diabetes. William learned about the T1D community from ADA’s Camp Discovery and Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Walks.
In 2021, William was diagnosed with Generalized Epilepsy. Drawing from his T1D experiences, he is now involved in raising awareness about seizures among his community through the Epilepsy Foundation. “You should never be afraid or ashamed to speak out about your situation. Whether it's proudly advocating or simply sharing it with your peers, there is always someone who will appreciate you sharing your story, whether you know it or not.”
William graduated from Belmont University, enjoys snowboarding, and is an avid Chicago Bulls fan.
Grace Macabobby
Grace Macabobby is a graduate of the University of Minnesota who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age three. When she was younger, she spent her summers at ADA’s Camp Discovery and loved being a part of the camp community. In high school, she was a Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador, supporting the organization’s advocacy, fundraising, and volunteer work.
Today, Grace regularly participates in Breakthrough T1D Walks with friends and family. She strives to show kids that diabetes shouldn't limit them but can connect them to a supportive community.
In her free time, Grace likes going to concerts, running, and exploring the city with friends.
Liz Doyle
Liz graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in dietetics in May of 2025, and currently works for Cargill as a Production Supervisor in the Atlanta area.
Diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at age 12, she attends Breakthrough T1D walks, education events, and bike rides. Liz and her mom began participating in Breakthrough T1D bike rides three years ago in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Liz recently completed her first 100-mile ride with her mom, sister, and Team Illinois friends. She also has been very active in the Georgia ride chapter.
This summer, Liz volunteered as a counselor for Camp Kudzu in Georgia while supporting Camp1 from afar. Advocating for T1D is Liz's top priority. She also loves hiking, biking, pickle ball, and trying new things, showing that having T1D doesn't hinder her active lifestyle and passion for food.
Tess Anderson, is a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was eight years old.
Eager to meet others after her diagnosis, Tess connected with other T1D kids through an ADA day camp. The camp’s support deeply impacted Tess, leading to her volunteer work as a camp counselor at health and foster camps.
Tess also advocates for diabetes-related initiatives by meeting with state and federal lawmakers. For nine years, she has captained Team Tess in the Tour de Cure cycling event and served as the Ride to Camp ambassador for the ADA. Her goal is to inspire children with Type 1 Diabetes to achieve great things, combining her OT knowledge with her T1D journey.