Greensboro’s Will Hayes, 16, and High Point’s Sebastian Sanchez, 15, will join 150 other kids, ages 4 to 17, to meet face-to-face with Members of Congress during the bi-annual event, running July 24-26

Will and Sebastian will be available for interviews before and after the event

Greensboro, North Carolina, July 20, 2017 — Two Guilford County teens, 16-year-old Will Hayes of Greensboro and 15-year-old Sebastian Sanchez of High Point, are headed to Washington, D.C., this weekend for JDRF’s 2017 Children’s Congress, which will take place on Capitol Hill July 24 – 26.

More than 150 children and teens with type one diabetes (T1D), ages 4 to 17, will attend Children’s Congress. Their objective is to help Members of Congress understand what life is like with T1D and why continued federal funding of research into life-changing treatments until a cure can be found is so critical. Will, Sebastian, and the other delegates will speak on behalf of the millions of people living with T1D as well as their families and friends.

As the future of healthcare is being debated in the halls of Congress and across America, Will and Sebastian will share their stories of life with T1D—a “pre-existing condition”—with senators and representatives. The teens will encourage legislators to continue funding T1D research and ensure that agencies including the Food and Drug Administration continue fast-tracking break-through T1D treatments such as the Artificial Pancreas, which was approved in September 2016.

Unlike type 2 diabetes, T1D is an autoimmune disease; people with T1D must have insulin in order to survive, and that means checking blood sugar constantly throughout each and every day.

Will Hayes, who was diagnosed with T1D when he was 12, says, “Although T1D is a huge pain to live with, it has really made me a better person. I am more responsible, I don’t take as much for granted, and I work harder because I know that I have to…[But,] I am sick of this disease. I am sick of checking my blood sugar, taking insulin for the food I eat, waking up in the middle of the night to drink apple juice. [I am sick of] the mood swings and changing my pump site. I’m sick of it all. And I am dedicated to doing all that I can to make it easier to live with or find a cure for T1D.” Will is a rising junior at Greensboro Day School, where he is on the varsity soccer, swimming, and tennis teams. He’s training for his second JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, a 100-mile fundraising bike ride in Amelia Island, Florida, in October. Learn more about Will at cc.jdrf.org/delegates/will-nc.

Sebastian Sanchez has had a different T1D experience: He was diagnosed when he was only 16 months old, so he doesn’t remember life before diabetes. “Diabetes is tough to live with and prevents me from living like a regular kid. I have to constantly inject myself with insulin, count carbohydrates, monitor my blood sugar, and deal with needles,” he says. Sebastian also wants to share an economic perspective with Congress: “The economic support that our government provides [for T1D research] truly impacts the lives of countless individuals…The U.S. currently spends over $200 billion/year for diabetes-related issues. If a cure was found, massive amounts of spending would be lifted.” It’s important to note that Sebastian has not let T1D stand in his way—a rising junior who is at the top of his class at Southwest Guilford High, he’s a long-time (level-8) gymnast, the first-chair viola player in his school orchestra, and a member of the All-State Orchestra. Sebastian is training for his second JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, a 100-mile fundraising bike ride in Saratoga Springs, New York, in September. Learn more about Sebastian at cc.jdrf.org/delegates/sebastian-nc.

Follow Will, Sebastian, and the other Children’s Congress delegates by visiting cc.jdrf.org or using the hashtag #JDRFCC17 through July 26. See a video with highlights from the 2015 Children’s Congress at vimeo.com/184898787.

About Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that impacts millions of people around the world. The disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone essential to turning food into energy. Without insulin, glucose from food stays in the blood, where it can cause serious damage to all of the body’s organ systems. It requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing, and lifelong dependence on injected insulin. With T1D there are no days off, and there is no cure.

About JDRF: JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, and has committed over $2 billion to research since its founding in 1970. JDRF and its supporters share the vision of “a world without type 1 diabetes,” and work every day to support the organization’s mission of “accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.” JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to bring life-changing therapies from the lab to the community. As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $568 million in charitable research in 18 countries—including 50 active clinical trials. jdrf.org   or @JDRF on Twitter

About JDRF – Piedmont Triad Chapter: Covering 14 North Carolina counties, the Piedmont Triad Chapter raises funds for T1D research through a variety of events, including its annual Hope Gala; One Walks in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, and High Point; and the Ride to Cure Diabetes. facebook.com/jdrftriad