07/06/2026
Thank you Alysha! 💙
After Alysha’s daughter, Addy, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in October 2025, life quickly changed for the England family. There was much to learn, a lot to adjust to, and a new “normal” to figure out.
“Since diagnosis, my goal has been to help support her and her journey through T1D anyway that I can at her pace,” said Alysha.
In 1968, Dr. Edward Hertko created Camp Hertko Hollow for children diagnosed with diabetes. What started with 37 campers has grown into a camp experience that now supports nearly 300 children with Type 1 Diabetes, along with their friends and families. And for the England family, Camp Hertko Hollow has become a meaningful part of their summer.
At first, Addy wasn’t sure summer camp was for her, but after attending a diabetes family camp in the spring, everything changed. Within just a couple of hours, Alysha could see how valuable the summer experience would be for Addy. That family camp experience led Addy to summer camp and led Alysha to volunteer to be a camp counselor.
“I quickly felt a pull to help,” Alysha shared. “I also wanted to be there to support Addy during summer camp, so I put in an application to volunteer as soon as we got home.” Alysha was selected as a volunteer the very next week.
From tie-dye days and new friendships to diabetes awareness and education, camp was packed with moments that helped kids feel seen, supported, and understood. Throughout the week, campers were reminded of one simple message: “Do all the good you can.” It’s even displayed on the arch as families drive home at the end of camp.
For Alysha, the hope is that campers leave knowing they are not alone.
She wants kids to understand that diabetes does not have to hold them back. They can still do the same things as everyone else, while learning how to manage the highs and lows (literally and figuratively) alongside others who truly understand.
Alysha also carried advice from her own mom into the week. When she once asked her mom how she managed everything with five kids, the answer was: “You just do it.” That advice has stuck with Alysha through many life events, including Addy’s diagnosis. “You lean on your people, you figure it out, and you just do it,” Alysha said.
To sum up the week, Alysha simply stated, “You cannot control everything, patience is a virtue, sleep is a gift, diabetic kids are some of the strongest humans I've ever met, and camp counselors are saints.” And we whole-heartedly agree. 💙
