5 Year-Old from Dallas, NC to Represent North Carolina Next Month in Washington

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2017_b_miles_nc_5Miles Bones, age 5 of Dallas, NC has been chosen by JDRF, the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, to join a delegation of children and celebrity advocates in Washington, D.C. this summer at JDRF 2017 Children’s Congress from July 24-26.

The Delegates will be lobbying their Members of Congress to remind them of the vital need to continue supporting T1D research that could reduce the burden of this disease and ultimately find a cure.

These children—ages 4 to 17, and representing all 50 states—will participate in a number of activities on the Hill, including a Congressional Committee hearing to share personal testimonies that highlight the daily struggles of living with T1D and the need for continued funding for research projects such as the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). They will sharing their concern to the Senate about the new AHCA bill that would allow people with pre-existing conditions like T1D to be excluded from regular insurance plans and sent to “high-risk insurance pools” that charge premiums that are 150 to 200 percent higher than what is charged for typical coverage. These delegates will bring names and faces to the fight for healthcare reform and the need for continued support of research and access.

Joining the U.S. Delegates will be six international Delegates traveling from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Together, the Delegates will convey a clear message to the Federal Government that T1D is a global problem that requires a global effort.

“These children and their parents face the burden of type one diabetes every day, and by sharing their stories, they become the most powerful advocates we have in fighting type one diabetes. They represent millions of other families like mine who need the support of the government to help us end this disease,” says Derek Rapp, JDRF President and CEO. “Children’s Congress gives the T1D community a unified voice in front of Congress and a way to urge our government leaders to continue supporting research.”

Serving as Chair for JDRF 2017 Children’s Congress will be Angie Platt of Encino, Calif., whose 13-year old son, Jonathan, was diagnosed with T1D at age 6. Angie is a member of JDRF’s International Board of Directors and previously chaired the 2013 Children’s Congress. As Chair of the event, she will help engage, support and energize all these Delegates and their families during the advocacy efforts up on Capitol Hill.

“I am really excited to meet lots of new friends who have type 1 diabetes like I do. I want to tell people what it’s like to live with diabetes so they can help find new ways to take care of me and maybe even find a cure!” said Miles, age 5.

When Miles grows up, he wants to be a pharmacist or a dog walker.

Here are the highlights from the JDRF 2015 Children’s Congress;

CC 2015 Highlights from JDRF on Vimeo.

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