Fifth grader Tyler Simchon has been busy with the typical schedule of a middle school student, one filled with homework, classes and studying, But the Solon resident has plenty on his plate outside of the classroom as well.
Tyler has been hot on the microphone over the past few months, fine-tuning his skills as a reporter and working hard to advocate for support and a cure for those with type 1 diabetes.
The Solon middle schooler, who was named a member of the spring 2025 Junior Council for “The Week Junior” magazine in April, traveled to Washington, D.C. from July 7 to July 9 to serve as a youth reporter at the Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress, was a youth reporter at the Breakthrough T1D Walk at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Oct. 19 and was most recently selected as a junior reporter for the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2025-26 season.
“When I started with “The Week Junior,” they taught me how to interview people,” Tyler, who has type 1 diabetes, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “My first interview was really stressful, and I had to practice a lot. But then I was like ‘Hey, that wasn’t so bad.’ I really like to do it, and that’s what really pushed me to go on.”
Tyler, a congregant of Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, has a passion for writing, even penning a few books in third grade. At the Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress, which convenes every two years in the nation’s capital and brings together more than 160 children from ages 4 to 17 years old living with type 1 diabetes to allow them to meet with lawmakers and share their story, he got to combine his love for reporting with an issue that matters greatly to him.
“I interviewed lots of people from child delegates to adults,” he said. “My favorite there was Dr. Aaron Kowalski, the CEO of Breakthrough T1D. It was amazing to interview him and get to know him. He’s done so many things for the diabetes’ world and working towards research and a cure.”
Tyler and the delegates also sat in on a U.S. Senate hearing, where they heard testimonies from advocates and families affected by T1D. While he admitted the session was long, Tyler said that it was an amazing chance to get to “hear a lot of stories that were very heartwarming”
“It was really cool,” he said. “I took notes and heard people try to raise money for SDP, the Special Diabetes Program, which helps fund diabetes research. I heard them talk back and forth.”
At the Breakthrough T1D Walk in Cleveland, Tyler not only interviewed those attending the event, but participated in the walk and helped successfully raise over $4,400 to support T1D research and the search for a cure.
“I was with my best friend, Henry, and he supported me with my walk, as did my family and brother,” Tyler said. “It was really cool interviewing people. They weren’t expecting it and were like ‘This kid wants to interview me!’ I’m not used to it, but it was very fun.”
Tyler said one of his favorite parts was the diabetes parade, where each person with T1D stands up and is recognized based on how long it has been since their diagnosis.
It is super important to attend such events, Tyler said, because he wants to work towards a cure to make not only his lives easier but to “help other people less fortunate that don’t have the same things I have to help me.”
Tyler also had the chance to attend Cavs’ media day on Sept. 29, asking players like Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill their thoughts on the upcoming season, as part of his membership in the Cavs Kids Club Jr. Reporters class of 2025-26. Along with four others, he has the chance to cover game-day press conferences, report about Cavs’ community relations initiatives or youth sports programs.
“I was really nervous because I’m interviewing people that are really tall, can dunk and are famous,” Tyler said. “It was a new experience for me and was amazing. The way they answered questions was interesting, and they were so nice.”
His favorite player to meet? Mitchell, who came over and fist bumped the reporters and spoke with them.
Tyler made sure to mention he couldn’t do any of it without the support of his parents, Melissa and Gadi Simchon, his younger brother, Aiden, 7, and his grandparents, Sheree and Steven Fien, of Pepper Pike.
“They’ve helped me every step of the way through everything I’ve done,” he said.