Every other year, JDRF Advocates meet with their U.S. Senators and Representative in their home states and Districts, to establish personal relationships and explain how Congress can help create a world without T1D. The Promise to Remember Me campaign gives families impacted by T1D the chance to share the emotional, physical, and financial toll of the disease with their Members of Congress at a local level.

This year’s Promise to Remember Me campaign was all virtual and ran from July 20 – September 21. Over 50 New Jersey Metro Chapter constituents met with all 9 districts representatives during the campaign. Besides sharing their personal T1D stories, they addressed important topics such as; renewing the Special Diabetes Program, supporting initiatives that make insulin more affordable and helping midsize nonprofits gain access to Covid-19 financial relief programs.

We are so grateful to our local representatives that took time out of their busy schedules to hear their constituents stories and the policies that will help make living with T1D more manageable until there is a cure.

Rep. Christopher Smith (R) — NJ-4
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D) — NJ-5
Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D) — NJ-6
Rep. Tom Malinowski (D) — NJ-7
Rep. Albio Sires (D) — NJ-8
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D) — NJ-9
Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D) — NJ-10
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) — NJ-11
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) — NJ-12

Testimonials from JDRF Advocates:

“I loved participating in this campaign! I was very happy to use my voice to help advocate for something I am strongly passionate about.” – Avery Glancy, T1D, Youth Ambassador

“Participating in this meeting was such a great experience. I felt like the lawmakers are truly willing and wanting to hear our stories. I hope to participate again in the future.” – Kim McCoy, T1D mom

“It is so important for our representatives to see first-hand the human lives they are impacting by funding critical programs such as the Special Diabetes Program (SDP).” – Lisa Clarke, T1D mom

“I loved having the opportunity to lead the Promise to a Remember Me campaign meetings, advocating along side other families living with T1D. It was empowering, using our voices to ensure that the legislative priorities for our community are heard and that our Congress members understand how these issues like insulin affordability and federal funding support for T1D research affect us on a deep and personal level.” Said Sapna Bhambhani, New Jersey Metro Advocacy Team Chair, T1D mom, Board of Directors

We urge you to sign up to be an advocate today, and encourage friends and family to do the same to receive timely updates and actions you can take.