JDRF Children's Congress 2009
Young People Make Big Impact
Children's Congress delegates may be young, but they are very persuasive advocates in JDRF's fight for a cure for type 1 diabetes. Their impact can be seen in some of JDRF’s important legislative successes, including the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program five times, which resulted in $1.6 for research funding. The 2009 Children’s Congress takes place June 22-24 in Washington, DC.
Meet the five delegates from the Northwest:
Chloe Bacik
Chloe Bacik of Edmonds, WA is a budding actress. She’s already acted in community theater and a short film at the Seattle Film Festival. Diagnosed at age four, she’s been very involved in advocacy, giving speeches and serving as a youth ambassador for Beat the Bridge in 2008. She’s excited at the prospect of once-daily smart insulin, so she can “live like a normal 12-year-old girl.”
At Children’s Congress, she wants legislators to understand how diabetes affects her life and thank them for their support. “I want to do whatever I can to help make a difference, and tell the government why it’s so important to fund research.” She’s also very hopeful for a cure. “I have a feeling one is just right around the corner.”
Drew Pepin
Drew Pepin of Tacoma, WA is a busy young man. The 11-year-old loves to skateboard, plays the drums inschool band, and is on the basketball, baseball, and football teams. He’d also like to be the first professional stuntman with type 1 diabetes. Drew will bring this fearless attitude and energy to his advocacy work on Capitol Hill in June.
“I don’t want my kids, or any kids at all, to have to go through what I do,” he says. “I know that if research is supported, then this disease can be conquered!” In the future, Drew looks forward to having a “robotic pancreas”—and hopes it materializes before he learns to drive and goes off to college.
Auston Rogers
Auston Rogers, 14, is an avid fisherman from Missoula, MT. When not taking part in fishing tournaments or competitions, he likes to camp and take road trips. Diagnosed ten years ago, he takes his diabetes in stride. “It’s not as bad as it seems in the beginning,” he says. “You learn to live with it and can pretty much live a normal life.”
He’s excited for his big road trip to Washington, DC to share his story with Congress, and tell them what it’s like to live with diabetes on a daily basis. “I want legislators to think of me when considering how much funding to provide for diabetes research,” he says. He’s hopeful for a cure in his lifetime, and is interested the potential of stem cell research and islet cell transplants.
Ben Rosbach
The 2009 Beat the Bridge ambassador and baseball fan Ben Rosbach threw out the first pitch to his beloved Seattle Mariners during a game this spring. Besides baseball, seven-year-old Ben loves to ride his bike, swim, and play soccer and chess at home in Bellingham, WA.
He’d like to be a scientist one day to help cure diabetes, and seems to be getting an early start. “I’ve learned a lot about diabetes and I’ve done research on the Internet,” he says. He’s looking forward to sharing his story with legislators this summer. “I want to thank them for helping! And I also want to tell them that diabetes is hard to live with day to day.”
Krista Thomson
Diagnosed nearly four years ago, diabetes has not slowed down Krista Thomson, age 14, of Juneau, AK.
She’s been playing soccer for 9 years, plays volleyball, and has hiked several mountains in Alaska and New Zealand. She looks forward to the day when she doesn’t have to count carbs or remember to take her shots. “I want a cure for diabetes so that I can feel free and like a kid again without the constant worry.” To prepare for her trip, she’s creating a scrapbook for legislators about her life in Alaska and her strong desire for a cure.
She’s excited to meet the other Children’s Congress delegates this summer. “It’s going to be nice to be around more kids my age who have diabetes,” she says. “I’d like to ask them what it’s like to be on a pump and what it’s like for them everyday having diabetes.”
Northwest Advocates Join Kids Across the Country as Delegates for JDRF's Children's Congress 2009 in Washington, D.C
This summer, 150 children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes, representing all 50 states and many other countries, have been selected to travel to Washington, D.C. to remind Congress and the new Administration of the critical need to find a cure for their disease.
These children--ages 4 to 17--will converge on Capitol Hill to share their stories of life with diabetes, meet with elected officials, and urge lawmakers to increase research funding during the JDRF Children's Congress 2009 on June 22-24.
Delegates representing the Northwest include:
- Benjamin Rosbach of Bellingham, WA
- Chloe Bacik of Edmonds, WA
- Drew Pepin of Tacoma, WA
- Auston Rogers of Missoula, MT
- and Krista Thomson of Juneau, AK.
The event is led by JDRF's International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore and will include Congressional visits by the child delegates and a Senate hearing where Ms. Moore, select delegates, researchers, and business and community leaders will testify on the need for continued funding for research on diabetes and its complications. Ms. Moore and the child delegates will ask Members of Congress to support an increase in federal funding for diabetes research.
Children's Congress, held every other year since 1999, has become the largest media and grassroots advocacy event held in support of finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.