Lucy Brumbaugh, Caroline Dorn, Micah Kane, and Priya Storey have returned from a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the nation’s capital, where they joined nearly 160 children, ages 4 to 17, as Georgia Delegates to Breakthrough T1D 2017 Children’s Congress, held July 24-26. Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress is the largest grassroots event supporting T1D research. Lucy, Caroline, Micah, and Priya were chosen through the Breakthrough T1D Georgia Chapter to represent Georgia at this biennial event, along with Delegates representing all 50 states, and Breakthrough T1D’s six international affiliate countries.

In between meeting kids from around the country and celebrity role models like Charlie Kimball, Brec Bassinger and Cory Vaughn, the Georgia delegates lobbied Members of Congress to urge continued Federal Government support for T1D research that aims to reduce the burden of the disease and contribute to a cure.

The event culminated with a Congressional Committee hearing on July 26th, which included testimony from select Delegates. These personal testimonies drew attention to the daily struggles of those living with T1D and the need for continued research funding and support, such as renewal of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP).

To view photos from the 2017 Children’s Congress, click here.

Thank you Caroline, Lucy, Micah and Priya for representing Georgia at the 2017 Children’s Congress! 

About Children’s Congress      

Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress was inspired by (then) eight-year-old Tommy Solo from Massachusetts, in 1999. He overheard adult Breakthrough T1D volunteers talking about going to Washington, D.C. to talk to Congress and thought it was important that children go, too, and make their voices heard. Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress inspires national lawmakers to remember the children who live with T1D when making decisions about medical research funding and voting on other important Federal Government issues relating to diabetes. The young Delegates’ personal stories, told in their own words, are often more powerful than almost any other type of education a legislator and staff can receive.

Tommy’s idea quickly became a well-developed event, first held in 1999. Since then, Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress has occurred every other year.

To learn more about Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress, please visit https://cc.jdrf.org/.