Three inspiring youth from the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter have been selected to serve as delegates at Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children’s Congress, taking place in Washington, D.C. from July 7 to 9. Dominic, 11, from Cherry Hill, NJ; Danya (Donnie), 17, from New Castle, DE; and Giuliana, 13, from Norristown, PA, will join 170 peers from across the country to speak up for the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community on Capitol Hill. They will be joined by Garrett, 9, from Earleville, MD, who will represent Maryland but is an active Youth Ambassador in our Chapter community.
During the three-day advocacy event, delegates ages 4 to 17 will meet with members of Congress to share their personal stories and call for renewed federal support for T1D research, including renewal of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) and investments in breakthrough therapies like cell-based treatments.
“Children’s Congress empowers youth living with type 1 diabetes to speak with a unified voice to urge federal leaders to support the entire T1D community,” said Lindsay Fortese, Executive Director of our Chapter. “Every day these youth and their parents face the burden of type 1 diabetes, and by sharing their stories they become powerful advocates in the fight to end this disease.”
Dominic, who was diagnosed with T1D just after his fifth birthday, is passionate about helping others and brings a positive outlook to his daily challenges. “Living with type 1 diabetes means constantly thinking about my blood sugar and what my body needs,” he said. “I’m excited to go to Washington and speak up for all kids like me who just want to live a normal life.”
Children’s Congress also features leadership-building activities, opportunities to connect with T1D role models, and a powerful Senate hearing where selected delegates share testimony about what it’s like to live with T1D.
In addition to the U.S. delegates, five international representatives from Australia, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom will join to underscore the global impact of this disease.
Serving as Chair for the 2025 event is longtime volunteer Stacie Oshima of California, whose son Evan was diagnosed with T1D at age six. Stacie’s leadership will help guide and support delegates and their families as they advocate for progress on behalf of the entire T1D community.
To learn more and see highlights from past events, visit cc.breakthrought1d.org.