The ultimate goal of "The Diabetic Angels," is to help cure diabetes, while educating young people everywhere about this disease that affects millions of Americans to avoid and eliminate discrimination that too many diabetics experience. To accomplish this objective, my twin sister, Mollie, and I, focus on four primary areas: Awareness, Advocacy, Fundraising and Mentoring. Additionally, we are able to draw on our musical talent with which we have been blessed to reach larger audiences and communicate our positive message.
We started our involvement with Diabetes when Mollie was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes at 4, and at 6 we donated our time and effort to the local chapter and eventually nationally at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, (JDRF, www.jdrf.org). But we, along with some of the Diabetic Angels, didn't stop there, we went on to speak at public forums, support groups, and schools, to students, teachers, and administrators in an attempt to educate them as to the needs of a diabetic in the educational and work environment. Moreover, for two years, we filmed an ongoing Video-Diary for ABC’s Good Morning America, about living with diabetes and overcoming the struggles and fears of a child wearing an insulin pump. We also participated in multiple educational documentaries for newly diagnosed children and teen diabetics and their families that are designed to replace the fear a newly diagnosed diabetic experiences, with a sense of hope that a cure will be found in their lifetime and the belief that they are not alone and that regardless of being diagnosed with Diabetes, they still have a bright future to look forward to. Furthermore, we have filmed several PSA’s, readily given interviews with the Diabetic Angels to educate the news media about diabetes related topics, and Mollie and I wrote a booklet entitled, “The Road To The Cure,” which explains to children everywhere, no matter their age, that like us they too can make a difference and gave them a few tips on how to do so. Mollie and I also met with President Bush on three separate occasions and successfully lobbied many of the members of The U.S. House and Senate. We went on to testify twice before Congress, asking them to increase funding for diabetes research. In so doing, we helped to obtain congressional support on a variety of medical and technology related bills that have and will continue to benefit diabetics everywhere.
