Four media crews interviewed him throughout the week before Ironman. He’d been followed by a documentary film team. He’d spoken at numerous conferences, and been on a year-long book signing tour. But when Triabetes athlete Aaron Perry saw the IronKiDz cheering him on at the 2008 Wisconsin Ironman, he “finally realized what Triabetes was all about.”
This year, nine type 1 Insulindependence IronKiDz were selected to pair up with an Ironman mentor on the Triabetes team, participate in a 3-day river trip with diabetic peers from around the country, then cross the finish line at Ironman Wisconsin with their Triabetes “training buddy.” It was, according to one IronKiDz mom, “An experience that will stay with us forever.”
Throughout their adventure, IronKiDz learned how to take diabetes under their own control, and not let it get in the way of their life’s greatest dreams.
Look below to see what other Triabetes athletes had to say about the ironKiDz project, as well as the ironKiDz’ families and the kids themselves.
IronKiDz Parents
“This is an experience that will stay with us forever.”
“I must admit that I felt skeptical that the experience could be as amazing as advertised, simply because I felt it was too much to ask of the athlete to give thought to the kids as they were preparing to compete and on race day. I was wrong!”
“She is totally hooked on canoeing now and convincing the whole family we need to exercise more.”
“We were very happy with the whole experience and hope to stay involved with Insulindependence!”
“The example the Triabetes team set for all of us is tremendous and has taught us to set our expectations high and go for it.”
Athletes
 "The IronKidz program gave so much gratification to me as a leader in DIABETES PROMOTION, as an athlete who continues looking for ways to spread the hopeful word of fitness to others, and as a father of a son with diabetes. Clayton will always have that race finish in his memory. He will reflect on this event when he gets down not eating sweets or having to test so much. We will have that photograph of our finish together, for eternity, as Clayton's Dad sharing the way to escape a life tortured by an avoidable collection of diseases. Endurance athletics shared with kids who have diabetes. I can't think of anything more admirable for a diabetic athlete to do.”
- Bill Carlson, 2008 Triabetes team member"
"The IronKids program is the main reason I ended up getting involved in the first place. Simply put, my IronKid Ryan is my biggest inspiration in life and diabetes management right now. He does not let his disease stop him from doing anything he wants and more importantly, he does not ever let it get him down. Quite the opposite actually - he sees all the things that he gets to do because of this disease, like Triabetes. Triabetes has meant so much to him and he will be forever thankful. I will also be forever thankful just in this aspect alone because I am already becoming close to Ryan and his family and we intend to remain lifelong friends. Thank you for everything.”
- Steve Parker, 2008 Triabetes team member
“I got the chance to be both a hero and a role model to a child with
diabetes - there's no medal or podium finish that can compare to
that.”
- Brian Foster, 2008 Triabetes team member
Follow this link for more information on last year’s project.
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Athlete Events 
“It was so cool to finally meet my Ironman.”