Happy December! The JDRF Advocacy Team decided to make it a special contest month for our Spread the Word program.
We are offering up a trip to Washington, DC for our annual Government Day program on March 12-15, 2011. We'll take care of your travel, hotel, and most meals while you join us for some JDRF legislative and grassroots updates, training sessions, and time on the Hill to talk about type 1 issues.
If you'd like the chance to join us for Government Day, all you have to do is participate in our Spread the Word program this month!
The goal of Spread the Word is pretty simple:
The more JDRF Advocates contacting Members of Congress about type 1 issues, the greater an impact we make on those issues. So that means we need you to help us build and strengthen our network of advocates by "spreading the word" and asking your friends and family to sign up as JDRF Advocates.
The Spread the Word site makes it extremely easy for you to tell your story and invite friends and family to sign up as an Advocate through email, Facebook, and even text message. Existing JDRF Advocates will need to enter their username and password to log on to the site (email us if you need help.) If you are not a JDRF Advocate, you'll have to sign up first before you can get started with your invitations.
Now, here's how the contest will work:
The drawing will be held on January 5, 2011, and the winner will be notified by email or phone. Those of you who sign up 5 or more advocates will receive a JDRF pin. (see image below)
So, head on over to http://stw.jdrf.org and get started Spreading the Word today for your chance to join us in Washington, DC!
Will you be "spreading the word" this month? What other prizes would you like to see offered during Spread the Word contest months? Please leave us your comments below or email us at advocacy@jdrf.org.
TO MY LEGISLATERS IN PA, PLEASE FUND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN FOR DIABETES
I want to know why there aren't lots of commercials on TV that show diabetes and children and how it affects the child and the family. A lot of people only know about Type II , which is nothing compared to Type I, and are clueless of its difficulties. We need more publicity about the Type I, and television is the way to go. Any answers on this?
dang! just found out about this. would have loved to represent the diabetic community in dc!!!
I think that JDF needs to stop treading lightly on the complications of DM in their publicity. Most people say to me, "Oh, you poor thing, taking those shots must be awful." To which I reply, " Please, taking shots doesn't evenb make my Top Forty list of miseries with diabetes. Maybe we should be a little more publis about MTMoore having had to have both her eyeballs' vitreous humours sucked out. I nearly die from an insulin reaction. DM1 is deadly. I killed our cousin in his thirties (reaction), it killed that Johnson and Johnson heiress (she was alone), I've read that the average Type 1 has 3 ER admissions each year. Most people I've met think because we look okay on the outside, it's just not that bad. After all, we have insulin now, don't we? I know there is this delicate "we don't want to freak out the parents of newly diagnosed children or depress the hell out of teenagers." Well, when I was 19, I had catarracts, proliferative retinopathy, full body peripheral neuropathy with burning across my chest and back, autonomic neuropathy with gastropathy and diabetic diarrhea. Even with a pump, people find it difficult to get and keep an A1C near 7 and that guarantees complications. Stop trying to tug at heartstrings with commercials of little children taking shots and start showing what so-called Juevenile Diabetes looks lilke at 20, 30 and 40 years.
My daughter is a 10 year old Type 1 Diabetic; been 3 years now. She is very strong willed. She gives me the strength I need to deal with Diabetes. She is well controlled and is very aware of her symptoms and her body. When she was diagnosed her A1C was 7.0, and has not been higher than 6.7. She is very active and we choose to keep her active, not only for enjoyment but know it is good for her. We are insured but still pay quite about monthly for all her supplies. She is one of four children. Why is there not an incentive program for these children who are well maintained? Diabetes consumes us; and although we do realize it could be worse; a boost or some incentive would be nice. Sad to say; a free refill for a script or credits of some sort. I know there are programs out there for good students, how 'bout it?
I agree that more attention and publicity needs to happen for type 1 diabetes. People know NOTHING about this disease and in this day and age that's inexcusable when it's hitting our children. I recently attended some ADA events and honestly have to say that I was completely disgusted to learn that the person handling community involvement had NO KNOWLEDGE of type 1 diabetes. I had to explain it to her. I was asked to share my nieces story at a gold tournament, which I did, and participated with my entire extended family on their walk to raise $ which the heads here in town didn't attend (another sigh) and every communication is about money - no support given - just a faceless website and people on a salary who don't have the same motivation. It's very disheartening. I was lucky enough to find the DYF and JDRF and am in awe of their commitment to those with type 1 - therein lies my heart, my efforts, and my hope. This shouldn't be a closet disease - people need to know....this should be on TV regularly to help parents when their kids become ill......it can literally save lives