Hailing from St. Catharines, Ontario, Chris Jarvis is a well-known fixture in the rowing community. He won a gold medal in the coxless pairs race at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, and is an Olympian who competed in the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Jarvis; at the age of 13, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
The diagnosis created obstacles in his pursuit of rowing excellence, and he was told by his college coach at Northeastern University in Boston (where he studied chemical engineering) that he would never make the varsity team. Not one to give up, Jarvis persevered and beat the odds. Using an insulin pump to manage his condition, Jarvis not only made his college team but went on to compete for Canada for 8 years on the world stage.
Drawing from his own experience, Jarvis wanted to help youth overcome the stigma associated with diabetes. He founded the charitable organization I Challenge Diabetes in 2007 to create community and support for young athletes managing the condition. He recalls being helped by similar groups such as the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation, for which he is now a regular speaker, and knows what a difference having a strong support system can make. Through this initiative, Jarvis wants everyone to realize that diabetes doesn’t limit what you can do. While I Challenge Diabetes was initially started for teens, the organization now provides programming to people of all ages across multiple provinces in Canada.
I Challenge Diabetes wasn’t Jarvis’ first foray into building grassroots initiatives for others experiencing diabetes. He is also the co-founder of Insulindependence, a community support project that he started with fellow athlete, Peter Nerothin, who also lives with diabetes. For his ongoing advocacy and community-building, Jarvis was recognized with the National Inspiration Award by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Now a retired rower, Jarvis continues to inspire others to pursue their athletic passions and fight the stigma of diabetes.
— Written by Swapna Mylabathula