10 Year-Old from Amarillo to Represent Texas at JDRF 2013 Children’s Congress

AMARILLO, Texas - June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- June 17, 2013-Grant Denny, age 9, of Amarillo has big plans for this summer. He has been selected by JDRF to join 150 other children from around the country in Washington, D.C., to remind their Members of Congress of the vital need to continue supporting research that aims to reduce the burden they all share, of type 1 diabetes (T1D), until a cure becomes available.

These children—ages 4 to 17, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia—will visit the nation’s capital as delegates of the JDRF 2013 Children’s Congress from July 8 to 10. Joining them will be six international delegates traveling from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The international delegates will partner with U.S. delegates to convey a clear message to the U.S. government that T1D is a global problem that requires a global effort.  

The event, held every other summer, will once again be led by JDRF International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore, and will include congressional visits by the delegates and a Senate hearing, during which Ms. Moore and select delegates and advocates will testify on the need for continued funding for T1D research, under the theme of “Promise to Remember Me.” This theme serves as a powerful call to lawmakers to remember the struggle of living with the disease, and the importance of supporting and funding T1D research.  

“These outstanding children and their families all understand, as I do, that type 1 diabetes tests us every day,” says Ms. Moore, who has had T1D for more than 40 years. “Children’s Congress gives all of us a voice to urge Congress to increase its support of research, which is essential to reducing the burden of this disease on us and on our country.”

Grant has spent his young years speaking to others about type 1 diabetes and the need for research. He has a very keen understanding encourages support of JDRF research for adults and children, alike.  Grant was diagnosed when he was two years old.  He enjoys camping, Cub Scouts, and traveling.  He loves animals and hopes to become a veterinarian when he grows up. Grant created this educational video about diabetes: http://youtu.be/HlN76h5__AE



For a video of highlights from the 2011 Children’s Congress, click here (http://youtu.be/k1SzCwJ6f8Q).