Earlier this week was one of JDRF’s most celebrated and impactful events: 2019 Children’s Congress, which took place July 8-10 in Washington, DC.

More than 160 youth delegates from around the world and adult celebrities helped JDRF shine the spotlight on type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the needs of our community.

The three-day Congress began Monday and culminated with a Senate Hearing Wednesday led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). At the hearing, people living with T1D, along with the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, outlined how the SDP is improving lives and advancing research to treat, prevent, and find cures for the disease.

Throughout the event, our youth delegates met with their home-town Representatives and Senators, joined in speaking with the Food and Drug Administration, and testified before a Senate hearing.

This year, we’re thrilled that Aaron joined two delegates, actor Victor Garber who has lived with T1D for over 50 years, and Dr. Griffin Rodgers, who heads the National Institutes of Health’s diabetes institute, who testified at the hearing.

We advocated for the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program, which historically has directed $150M annually to T1D research. We all know how important this funding is to our work. Both the Senate and House have introduced bills for a five year renewal of the program, and we are fighting to renew it before it expires on October 1st. We also continued calling for coverage, affordability and choice, so our community can access the insulin, technologies, and treatments they need to stay healthy until we have a cure.

A moving, exciting and powerful event, Children’s Congress affords us the opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of our community and advocate for support from national leaders who can help us do so much more than we can do alone.

It also presents an unparalleled opportunity to unify our community in a shared sense of pride that our voices are heard — and that together, we are making a true difference in advancing cures and improving lives.

Please stay tuned for additional coverage through our blog postings and social media.