Ten-year-old Coltan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at nine months old and is 鈥�100 per cent insulin dependent,鈥� his mother Meghan Daniel said.

He didn鈥檛 let it stop him, though, from riding his bike over large jumps, rock climbing, or any other physical activity at this year鈥檚 Fraser Valley Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JRDF 鈥� formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Cloverdale family, including Coltan鈥檚 older brother, younger sister, parents, and two sets of grandparents have raised close to $65,000 dollars for the cause in the nine years since he was born.

鈥淥ne of our mottos during fundraising is that 鈥榳e鈥檙e just taking diabetes along for the journey,鈥� and 鈥榥ot letting it stop him鈥� from the things he wants to do, Mom said.

鈥淭heir family is amazing, they鈥檙e really driving for a cure,鈥� said JRDF regional director Dayna Backus.

Coltan told the Aldergrove Star the reason he fundraises and walks every year is 鈥渢o find a cure.鈥� His mother agreed adamantly.

Fraser Valley teams raised more than $70,000 of the eventual $160,000 goal, culminating in a walk held Sunday at Aldergrove Athletic Park.

Families 鈥� donning all sorts of unifying colours, capes, and team names 鈥� walked the park route that winded through neighbourhood areas of Aldergrove.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really enjoyable out here. People are loving it,鈥� Backus said.

Nationally, with more than 60 walks in Canada, the organization is poised to reach their 2019 goal of $5 million of fundraising, which will go towards Type 1 diabetes cure research and efforts.

Though Coltan is somewhat 鈥渦sed to鈥� living with Type 1 diabetes, 鈥渢here鈥檚 still times when he can鈥檛 go out for recess with friends because he has to deal with drops in his blood sugar,鈥� his mother elaborated.

For their family, a cure would mean 鈥渏ust to have the freedom and not have to worry,鈥� she said.

A lot of families go through a lot of worry at night time especially鈥漚s diabetic children are susceptible to dangerous drops in insulin, which is needed to regulate the bodies鈥� blood sugar.

鈥淚t鈥檚 24/7 鈥� there鈥檚 never a day or a night off once they鈥檙e diagnosed with Type 1. It鈥檚 go-time from day one. You can never take a break from that,鈥� Daniels admitted.

Ten years ago, Coltan鈥檚 family had to decide between giving their infant son frequent needles or inserting an insulin tube pump under skin on his abdomen.

His parents chose the pump, explaining 鈥渉e used to have to be connected to something at all times,鈥� to check his blood sugar.

Luckily, technological advancements have been made in way of insulin management.

For the past two years, Coltan has been using a wireless, waterproof pump that attaches to the skin behind his upper arm.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the sort of new technology that only comes through fundraising,鈥� the mother emphasized.

June 30 will be Coltan鈥檚 10 year 鈥渄iaversary,鈥� as the family calls it.

The Daniels plan to continue to fundraise for JRDF yearly until a cure is found.