Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Selected to Participate in 2019 JDRF Children’s Congress

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By : dLife Editors

JDRF, a global organization funding Type 1 diabetes research, announced the selection of more than 150 youth delegates who will be traveling to Washington, D.C. for the JDRF 2019 Children’s Congress from July 8-10.

The delegates will be lobbying their Members of Congress to remind them of the vital need to continue supporting Type 1 diabetes research that could reduce the burden of this disease and ultimately find a cure.

The children—ages 4 to 17, representing all 50 states—will participate in a number of activities on the Hill, including a Congressional Committee hearing to share personal testimonies that highlight the daily struggles of living with Type 1 diabetes and the need for continued funding for research projects such as the Special Diabetes Program (SDP).

Joining the U.S. Delegates will be five International Delegates traveling from AustraliaCanadaIsraelthe Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Together, the JDRF Youth Delegates will convey a clear message to the Federal Government that Type 1 diabetes is a global problem that requires a global effort.

“Every day these children and their parents face the burden of type one diabetes, by sharing their stories they become the most powerful advocates we have in fighting type one diabetes,” says Aaron J. Kowalski, JDRF president, and CEO. “The delegates are a representation of millions of other families like mine who need the support of the government to help us end this disease.

Kowalski says Children’s Congress gives the Type 1 diabetes youth community a unified voice in front of Congress and a way to urge our government leaders to continue supporting research.

Serving as Chair for JDRF 2019 Children’s Congress will be Katama Eastman of New York, NY, whose 15-year old daughter, Merrill was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 15 months.

Eastman is Board President of the JDRF New York City / Long Island Chapter. As Chair of the event, she will help engage, support and energize all of the Delegates and their families during the advocacy efforts up on Capitol Hill.

Source:

  1. JDRF. (2019, June 20). 150 Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Selected to Participate in 2019 JDRF Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C. PR Newswire. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/150-youth-with-type-1-diabetes-selected-to-participate-in-2019-jdrf-childrens-congress-in-washington-dc-300872207.html