After Merijn was diagnosed at age 10, he flew with his parents and sisters to the United States to meet with people from JDRF. Merijn’s father recently started a JDRF affiliate in the Netherlands, and Merijn is excited to be able to help.

After Merijn was diagnosed at age 10, he flew with his parents and sisters to the United States to meet with people from JDRF. Merijn’s father recently started a JDRF affiliate in the Netherlands, and Merijn is excited to be able to help. He does his best to educate his school about type 1, and he wants people to understand the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. As a delegate, Merijn would like to meet other children with diabetes, and says, “Together we can draw focus and attention to type 1 diabetes and the need to find a cure for all of us.”
Merijn enjoys riding his bicycle, sailing, watching sports bloopers, and playing field hockey, tennis, and soccer. He is interested in technology and innovations, and learning about ancient Greece. Last year, Merijn attended summer camp in the United States, and learned English by watching MTV and cartoons.