Board Member Spotlight – April Breen

For April Breen, being part of the GLUT1 Deficiency Foundation has always been about community and hope. April is the mom of Tessa, who was diagnosed with GLUT1 Deficiency in 2010 at 9 years old. That same year, her family attended their very first conference and immediately knew they had found a place where they belonged.

Wanting to channel their energy into something positive, April and her family began fundraising for the Foundation as a way to make a difference in the fight against a disease with no cure. Over time, April felt called to give back even more, serving on the Board from 2017–2023 and returning for a second term beginning in 2024.

“The Foundation has given our family so much help and hope,” April shares, “and I want to make sure every family can feel that same sense of support and connection.”

April has recently played a role in helping organize the first-ever GLUT1 Deficiency Research Workshop, which brought together 64 researchers, clinicians, students, caregivers, and industry representatives in New York City. For two days, big ideas, new partnerships, and the patient voice took center stage. One participant summed it up perfectly: “I’ve never been to anything like this—it was so motivating.”

April is inspired by how far the mission has grown—more families finding connection, more research opportunities taking shape, and more advocacy than ever before. She believes strongly that together, we can ensure no family faces GLUT1 Deficiency alone—and that the Foundation will remain strong, growing, and life-changing for years to come.

The G1DF is so grateful to April and the Breen family for all they do to help every member of the GLUT1 Deficiency community!