Blog - General Event

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.

As JDRF's President and CEO since January of 2006, I am really looking forward to attending my first Children's Congress in Washington, D.C., this June.  One of the main aspects of our JDRF team is the unique and powerful partnership between its staff and volunteers—kids and adults who live with type 1 diabetes every day.  Children's Congress is the prime example of that partnership.  Young people who know from experience the difficulties of life with diabetes are among the best advocates for a cure.  And JDRF, with our highly focused mission and scientific expertise, is the best organization to provide a platform for their voices to be heard.