There is no greater goal for those living with diabetes than to have a cure for the disease in their lifetime. From walking to cure diabetes to lobbying Congress, there are many ways in which people affected by the disease can participate in making it history. A cure is the ultimate goal, and you don’t have to be a doctor to contribute to the cause. As an advocate for juvenile diabetes, you can make the goal of a cure more possible than ever.
To become a part of this ever-growing number of supporters, simply find a way to involve yourself. By using resources such as the JDRF or ADA website, talking to a friend with experience in the organization, or just volunteering to stuff envelopes for the Walk to Cure Diabetes, you can be an agent to finding a cure. Use your personal skills and/or talents to help conquer this disease once and for all.
JDRF had a government relations office for the specific purpose of lobbying congress for research money. There is a children’s congress that helps the government relations office by “being the face of juvenile diabetes.” Any juvenile diabetic under the age of 18 can apply to be a part of children’s congress. The kids involved go to Capitol Hill and give speeches, explain their experience with diabetes to senators and congressmen, and try to relay the importance of finding a cure.
Simply donating money is another way to be an advocate for diabetes. The next time the Walk to Cure Diabetes roles around in your area, ask your fellow team members to each raise at least $50 each. If you have ten walkers, you’ve just donated $500 to diabetes research! Think if you had a walk team of twenty or thirty raising $100 each: about 85% of every dollar donated goes straight to research efforts (www.jrdf.org). That percentage is very high for a nonprofit organization.
Getting the word out is the greatest way to gain support for juvenile diabetes research. Tell your friends and family about the disease, and get people (yourself included) excited about being an advocate for a cure. It’s not here yet, but a cure is on it’s way because of the support of millions of advocates around the world!
To find out how you can become an advocate, visit www.diabetes.org or www.jdrf.org.