JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

JDRF welcomes today’s $35 million commitment from the Opposition Leader, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, to fund the Clinical Trial Network (CTN) that will improve the health of Australians with type 1 diabetes.

JDRF is seeking $40m in Federal Government funding to establish the CTN, with a contribution from JDRF of $10m. The Government’s recent initial commitment of $5m for the CTN was a positive first step.

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One hundred Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Youth Ambassadors aged 3 to 40, all with type 1 diabetes, will converge on Canberra to plead for continued government funding for type 1 diabetes research on 18 March.

Supported by a crowd of family members, total numbers at Kids in the House will hit 300. They are visiting Canberra as representatives of the 140,000 children and adults in Australia with type 1 diabetes, and the tens of thousands more who care for them.

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After visiting the White House to meet US President Barack Obama with 150 young people from around the world earlier this year, JDRF Youth Ambassador Brendan still had a couple more names on his list of world leaders to meet and talk about type 1 diabetes. He was able to cross another name off recently when he had dinner with the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd.

JDRF: How did you come to meet the PM?

Brendan: My Federal MP, Roger Price, invited me to his annual dinner dance.  He was being honoured for serving 25 years in Parliament and invited the PM as his guest of honour.  When we arrived at the dance, I was told by Mr Price’s staff that I would be sitting next to Mr Rudd for dinner, which was quite exciting!

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JDRF originated as a volunteer led organisation, and the passion and dedication of those who provide time, resources, and experience is the key to our growth and continued progress in the search for a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Youth Ambassadors make up a large part of our volunteer base and we are pleased to announce the 2008 Youth Ambassador of the year winners.

National

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Jazmin appeared on Adelaide’s Channel 31 program called ‘The Noticeboard’, shown on Wednesday nights at 7pm. The interview was a 7 minute segment filmed live and Jazmin excelled under pressure.

Jazmin not only informed Adelaide viewers that JDRF is aiming for $1 Million from Jelly Baby Month sales this month, but also where to buy them from and reminded all that ‘Jelly Babies save lives’. Jazmin is looking forward to her next media moment, including getting some media and public speaking training from the ‘Speakers Studio’ in Adelaide along with other keen JDRF Ambassadors.

Jazmin isn’t the only potential TV star in South Australia as Thomas Hayes has been offered work experience with Channel 9, and Emma Russell has work experience with Channel 7.

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Ten year old Youth Ambassador Danny Herivel worked the room like a seasoned politician at the recent NSW Government Community Cabinet meeting in his home town of Newcastle.

Dan discussed type 1 diabetes with 11 of the 22 Ministers who attended, including the Health Minister and the Minister for Science and Medical Research. And he didn’t miss a beat when the Premier, the Hon. Nathan Rees MP, walked over to say “You must be Danny”.

Dan’s mum Julie reported that Dan was ‘a breath of fresh air at the meeting’. It seems that most of the Ministers knew about JDRF and were receptive. Like many in the community, some of the politicians mixed up type 1 with type 2 diabetes but Dan was quick to point out the difference. Hearing about type 1 from such an eloquent YA, the politicians are unlikely to make that mistake again.

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