Voices raised for T1D research

JDRF 2017 Children’s Congress will take place on July 24-26, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

Every two years, more than 150 children living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) gather in Washington, D.C., to meet face-to-face with some of the top decision-makers in the U.S. government. The children, ages 4 to 17, represent all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The delegates in JDRF’s Children’s Congress enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help Members of Congress understand what life with T1D is like and why research to fund life-changing therapies until a cure can be found is so critical. They speak up on behalf of the millions of people living with T1D and the families and friends who love them. We are extremely proud of our Bay Area delegates:

AVERY RELLER
Age: 11
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

Avery Reller is a veteran participant of the Greater Bay Area Chapter’s JDRF One Walk event. She also volunteers at the chapter’s Tee-to-Table event in Half Moon Bay, where she and two others spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people about living with T1D. A member of the Student Council at her school, Avery hopes to participate in an artificial pancreas clinical trial this summer. In her free time, Avery likes to read, play soccer and hang out with her friends. “T1D research is very important to me because any improvement or technology that would make life easier I would be happy to have,” she says. “With more research, I believe that life will keep getting easier and that someday there will be a cure.”

CARTER MOSHER
Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 11

Carter is a Youth Ambassador and Youth Advocacy Leader representing JDRF’s Greater Bay Area Chapter. In those capacities he has spoken at the chapter’s Spring Fling and Tee to Table, and at various corporate events in the area. Carter mentors kids who are newly diagnosed with T1D, and is a member of his grandparents’ JDRF One Walk team. He and his sister are participating in a TrialNet study looking for early biomarkers of T1D. Last year, Carter met with his Congresswoman as part of the Promise to Remember Me initiative. Carter plays football and lacrosse, and is considering a career in law enforcement or government intelligence.

CHASE URBAN
Age: 12
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

Chase enjoys playing basketball—he plays on three teams—and spending time with his dog and two cats. In 2013, he participated in a clinical trial at Stanford for the Artificial Pancreas and tested a new Dexcom sensor in 2016. He is particularly interested in new T1D technology because of how much it has improved his life. He explains, “I love technology when it comes to my diabetes. It makes basketball, school or anything else I do easier. With my CGM and pump, diabetes is so much simpler.” Chase’s family Walk team has raised more than $100,000 to date, and he hopes that he can make a difference in the world through his life with T1D. “My dream is to empower people with diabetes to do things in their lives and not let diabetes stop them.”

JOEY HAGEN
Age: 15
Age at T1D diagnosis: 6

Joey enjoys playing competitive lacrosse and football, loves to hang out with friends and family, and is a committed volunteer. He looks forward to studying in college to become an engineer, saying, “Even though it has not been easy, I have never let T1D define me as a person or limit my goals.” Joey and his family take part in JDRF One Walks with the ’Joey’s Jammers’ team. He also regularly attends his local JDRF Hope Gala, and mentors kids with T1D as a JDRF Youth Ambassador. Joey spreads awareness by speaking at his school, and in his community, about what it’s like to have diabetes. He says, “It is my dream that one day soon, I can play, eat and sleep without having to think about T1D.”

NIKHITA GOPISETTY
Age: 15
Age at T1D diagnosis: 5

Nikhita enjoys playing varsity tennis, participating in speech competitions, baking and watching Golden State Warriors games. She is also a dedicated feminist who wants to play a part in the fight for equality. She says, “T1D has made me a much stronger, independent and mature woman than I would have ever imagined.” Nikhita was the first child with T1D at her K-12 school, so she helped educate students, teachers and staff about the realities of T1D. She has also taken part in JDRF One Walk, JDRF TypeOneNation Summits and a mentoring program called Diabuddies. She says, “I enjoy helping those who are newly diagnosed with a strong passion, for nothing is better than the feeling of making someone recognize that they’re not alone.”