Pam & Holland: Children's Congress Changed Our Lives

Although Holland and I had been on several "Promise to Remember Me" visits to see our legislators when we lived in New York, we learned even more about the importance of such visits when Holland was a delegate to Children's Congress in 2005. Meeting with Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton as well as Representative Carolyn Maloney on the Hill gave us an entirely new perspective.  We felt like we were participating in government, not just watching it happen.  We were able to share Holland's story of her life with diabetes firsthand and why it is so important to us and to the millions of others that live with diabetes to find a cure.

Because we were so honored to be a part of Children's Congress in 2005, we found a renewed mission when we returned home.  We recognized the importance of visiting our lawmakers on a regular basis, not only so that they remember the cause and JDRF, but so that they think of Holland and her struggles every time they have to vote on diabetes-related issues.  And as we all know, the issues change regularly and new votes come up all the time.

Now living in Virginia, we will be visiting state legislators at Children's Congress 2007 for the first time and hope to build new relationships with each of them.  Putting a face on this disease is our goal.  Finding a cure is our dream.