Lake Forest Teen Will Speak Up For Diabetes Research in Washington D.C.

A Lake Forest teenager will be one of 160 children ages 4-17 from around the country to visit Washington, D.C. this summer to remind their members of Congress of the need to continue supporting research that aims to reduce the burden they all share of living with type 1 diabetes.

Tommy Lacher, 16 was selected by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as a delegate to JDRF 2015 Children’s Congress, to be held from July 13-15.

Joining them will be six international delegates traveling from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom who will partner with U.S. delegates to convey the message to the federal government that T1D is a global problem that requires a global effort.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to go to Washington as a Children’s Congress delegate,” Lacher said. “It’s amazing that someone my age can talk to members of Congress about something that will help millions of people. “

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These visits, held every other summer, serve as a powerful call to elected lawmakers to remember the struggle of all those living with the disease, and the importance of supporting and funding T1D research.

“These outstanding children and their families all understand, as I do as a father of a loved one with type 1 diabetes, that T1D tests us every day,” says Derek Rapp, JDRF President and CEO. “Children’s Congress gives all of us one voice to urge Congress to maintain its commitment to supporting research, which is essential to reducing the burden of this disease on us and on our country.”