Portola Valley Teen Heading to D.C. for JDRF Children's Congress

Thomas Screven, age 16 of Portola Valley, has been selected by JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, to join a delegation of youth advocates in Washington, D.C. this summer at JDRF 2019 Children’s Congress from July 8-10. 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.

The children—ages 4 to 17, 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 challenges of living with T1D and the need for continued funding for research projects such as the Special Diabetes Program (SDP).

Thomas has been active since he was little playing soccer, baseball, flag football and basketball. Thomas says that what he enjoys the most about sports is the element of teamwork, and groups of people who are all working together toward a common goal. In addition to athletics, Thomas has been very involved with JDRF, participating in JDRF One Walk events and serving as a mentor as a part of the Dia-buddies program. Thomas looks forward to coming to Washington to be a part of a new team that’s working toward the common goal of making sure he and his fellow members of the T1D community are provided with the best care possible.

For a video of highlights from JDRF 2017 Children’s Congress, please click here.

About JDRF Children’s Congress

JDRF Children’s Congress was inspired by (then) eight-year-old Tommy Solo from Massachusetts, in 1999. He overheard adult JDRF 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. JDRF 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, JDRF Children’s Congress has occurred every other year.

To learn more about JDRF Children’s Congress, please visit http://cc.jdrf.org/.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.2 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.