Miller's story

At just 18, Dunedin student Miller Crooks is already making a real difference for young people living with type 1 diabetes. Between studying at Bayfield High School and working part‑time at Woolworths, he still finds time to volunteer at Diabetes New Zealand’s summer youth camps. Miller lives at home with his parents, sister, cat, dog, and like many teenagers, enjoys hanging out with friends, gaming and Lego builds - but it’s the diabetes community that has shaped him most.

Miller remembers feeling isolated when he was first diagnosed. He didn’t know anyone else with diabetes until he attended his first camp, where he suddenly found himself surrounded by kids who understood exactly what he was going through. The volunteers made those camps unforgettable, and the sense of belonging stayed with him.

This year, he returned - not as a camper, but as a volunteer. His focus was simple: make sure every child felt included, supported, and able to enjoy the same kind of experience that once meant so much to him.

For Miller, the reward is knowing he’s helping create a space where young people with diabetes can feel confident and connected, rather than defined by their condition.

“I found that seeing the kids having such an awesome time bonding with other kids just like them, doing fun activities, making friends, getting involved and a wee bit outside of their comfort zone feels so nostalgic to me, that is how I felt when I was in their position, and it feels rewarding knowing that more kids who have such an unfortunate health condition aren’t stopped and get to have an awesome time with each other on such a fun camp.”

This was his first year volunteering, but he’s already committed to coming back. The camps changed his life, and now he’s determined to pass that on.