This morning, when I checked into the office and logged onto the Promise to Remember Me Campaign website, I excitedly exclaimed, ’90 more meetings to go and we’ll get our hundred in August!’ Why, you ask am I excited about hitting our goal of a 100 meeting in August, when we still have 90 more meetings to schedule? Simple, I believe in YOU as a JDRF advocate and what you can make happen when YOU share your stories of living to diabetes. (So attend a Promise meeting!) 

A recent example is a ‘thank you’ note that one of our Children’s Congress families sent to their legislator’s office for meeting with them while in DC, see below. What the letter highlights for me is that only YOU can help Congress understand the importance of funding research, moving towards a cure for type 1, and what all that means to you and your loved ones! See the following for excerpt from the letter:

Thank you for meeting with my family and the 2011 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Children’s Congress Delegates concerning finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes. 

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with no known cause and no known prevention, affecting about 3 million Americans. As I mentioned to you, the incidence of Type I diabetes is increasing, even among very young children. My daughters are only 4 and 7 years old, diagnosed at ages 11 months and 5 years, and we have no family history for it. The disease is challenging to manage, unforgiving and can be debilitating.

I am glad to hear that Senator _____ supports funding the NIH fully in the area of diabetes research, and I hope he will consider joining the Diabetes Caucus, push the FDA to accelerate the development of an artificial pancreas device which would benefit my children immensely, and support the Special Diabetes Program to provide funds for diabetes research. In fact, a recent study indicated the artificial pancreas could save Medicare almost $2 billion over 25 years.

This simple, yet effective note, not only highlights the passion JDRF advocates have for a cure but also the knowledge and understanding that you all have of type 1 diabetes. Please sign up today to attend a Promise meeting and share your story of why we need a cure with your legislator. 

Hasan
JDRF Advocacy