That’s a wrap! The JDRF Northeast Wisconsin Chapter sent two delegates to Washington, D.C. from July 13-15 for JDRF’s Children’s Congress. Cara from Green Bay and Keira from Menasha were selected by JDRF to join nearly 160 other children from around the country to remind their Members of Congress of the vital need to continue supporting research that aims to reduce the burden they all share of living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), until a cure becomes available.

One of the main events of the week was the “Diabetes Research: Improving Lives on the Path to a Cure” hearing with the United States Special Committee on Aging, chaired by Senator Susan Collins (R- ME). During the hearing, six witnesses testified to a standing room only chamber full of our delegates and their families. The senators applauded the delegates and the witnesses for taking matters into their own hands and coming to Washington, DC to testify. Most hearings don’t feature standing ovations and thunderous applause. Watch the video of the hearing.

Cara said, “Meeting SO many delegates from all over with type one and all of us advocating for the same goal was amazing. To see hundreds of us walking around on the Hill was certainly noticed! It was a great experience speaking with members of Congress…I learned a lot by sitting in on a hearing, it was neat to see how the advocating I am doing is making a difference!”

Keira said, “It was so awesome to go to Washington DC and to see all the other people who live with T1D. It was great to meet so many nice people and to hear of their struggles and triumphs over T1D. It was a really good experience meeting with the Representatives from Wisconsin and being a part of the Children’s Congress.”

It was an inspiring three days. We would like to send a huge thank you to both of our delegates. Each and every one of the delegates used their voice and their story to advocate on the importance of funding research that will help us achieve our vision of a world without T1D.

Read the recap’s below to hear about the exciting three days Cara and Keira spent in Washington D.C. and watch the video.

Recap Children’s Congress Day One

Recap Children’s Congress Day Two

Recap Children’s Congress Day Three