150 children from throughout the country, including three from Missouri, are in Washington, D.C. today, serving as delegates to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Children’s Congress. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Children’s Congress is one of the largest events held in support of finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. Donna Chrum of O’Fallon is in the Nation’s Capital with 5-and-a-half-year-old Ryan. They’ll be meeting with elected officials and taking part in a Senate hearing. Donna found out about the Congress, last year, when she saw a printed ad. She sent an application on behalf of Ryan, and started preparing for the trip when she learned Ryan had been chosen as one of 150 delegates from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Ryan was diagnosed with diabetes when he was three years old. Despite his age, Ryan has already dealt with the day-to-day struggle to stay alive, learning the importance of his blood sugar levels and how to get that blood sugar checked when he’s at school or at a friend’s home. He’s already getting used to speaking in public and will tell members of Congress of the need for more federal funding to fight diabetes.
