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.

Awareness: Awareness is for both diabetics and their family, friends, and peers, as Diabetic Angels help people realize the importance of living a healthy lifestyle by means of a positive attitude and proper diabetes management, as well as, providing education to non-diabetics regarding the complications, difficulties, and fears diabetics face on a daily basis, as well as, how they can be helpful and supportive in a diabetic's life. To begin with, we created www.diabeticangels.com and www.myspace.com/diabeticangelsofficial where we help others learn about us and our activities, explain diabetes at great length through our "Diabetes 101" page, and encourage them to join us as we Make A Difference at annual Walk to Cure Diabetes fundraisers, among other events. In creating the first chapter of The Diabetic Angels at age 10, we never imagined a simple a club for diabetics of all ages, would turn into such a success today, as diabetics, their friends and family know what it is like to live with diabetes and are able to openly share aspects of diabetes with others. In order to become a diabetic angel, one must agree to learn about diabetes, know what to do in emergency, agree to be their diabetic’s advocate, and above all, show compassion and understanding to everyone, especially those whose lives are more challenging. Advocacy: At the age of 7, Mollie and I began advocating for a cure for diabetes locally and nationally. Over the past 11 years, the two of us organized an extensive letter writing campaign, to Former President Clinton that was written by hundreds of children, including the original members of the Diabetic Angels. Due to the severity of this devastating disease, and our determination to cure diabetes in our lifetime, for the Diabetic Angels, advocacy is not an option, but a way of life. Fundraising: Mollie and I began our fundraising efforts at the age of 6, when we opened a lemonade stand outside our home which at the time was under construction, and over the course of the summer (Las Vegas summers are VEERRRYY long and hot) we successfully raised over $2,000.00; we were instantly convinced that this was enough to cure diabetes, but of course our bubble burst and reality set in that we would most likely be continuing our fundraising endeavors for some years to come. Shortly thereafter, we began regularly speaking at CEO Breakfasts (Major Donors) explaining to the executives what it was like to live with diabetes and how it impacted the diabetic’s entire family and their way of life. We also demonstrated exactly how Mollie poked her fingers with a lancet to test her blood sugar and informed them that in order to stay healthy and maintain good diabetes control, she needed to test her fingers 10-15 times a day and even more often when she was sick. We explained to the CEO’s that by financially supporting our efforts and those of JDRF that they could be the ones to Make A Difference in the life of so many diabetics. That same year we organized our first Walk Team raising funds as we participated in JDRF’s Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. Over the years, we continue to organize and grow our Walk Team and its supporters, known as Diabetic Angels. Further fundraising efforts include organizing, participating, and performing at special events and benefit concerts, such as an outdoor concert, “Rock The Walk.” All in all, it is gratifying to know that over the past 11 years, our resolve to cure diabetes has resulted in our raising more than a half a million dollars ($500,000.00) for diabetes research and medical technology! As we got older, the Diabetic Angels were there for us to help us fundraise and in turn we taught other chapters how we were successful in our efforts and the other aspect that Diabetic Angels must do is fundraise, as 100% of funds raised from the DA's go to JDRF international towards research and will fund the cure we all so desperately pray for each and every day. Mentoring: Even though Mollie and I are only 19-years-old, we have been privileged to spend the last five years volunteering as two of the few Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s teenage Cyber-Volunteers. Although Mollie and I never offer medical or legal advice, our responsibilities do encompass counseling newly diagnosed diabetics, their siblings, and their friends about everyone maintaining a positive attitude and the importance of the proper diabetes management, so that they are able to support the diabetic in their life. Additionally, we inform them, along with Diabetic Angels around the world, of helpful and educational diabetes resources and the importance of everyone becoming involved in curing diabetes, or engaged in any cause that helps them keep their diabetes in perspective. Instilling a sense of gratitude and hope in a diabetic who may be angry, frustrated, or confused, helps the diabetic appreciate all that is good in their life rather than giving them an excuse to dwell on the negative; being a positive and responsible diabetic means taking control of their disease and not letting diabetes control them. In addition to our volunteer work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, for the past five years we have been mentoring diabetics and their siblings from around the world, through www.curemoll.com, our diabetes blog, through which we have mentored diabetics and their siblings on six continents. Overall, our goal in mentoring is to convey a message of hope for the future, to be role models by demonstrating the benefits of giving of yourself to help others as a way of maintaining a positive attitude, and ultimately helping all diabetics, their families and their friends obtain the tools they need to be healthy, so that when the cure is found, they will be able to benefit from everyone’s hard work and research.

Since the beginning of 2008, Mollie and I have expanded the Diabetic Angels to a global audience and have created several websites and blogs to communicate with young people around the world seeking resources and ways to get involved in helping to find a cure for diabetes. We are in the process of continuing our expansion to Europe and Australia and have successfully started chapters in Canada already. Additionally, once those chapters are up and running, we hope that they can in turn be given the proper tools to encourage others to become DA's in their area, wherever in the world they may be. In the future, we hope to have an organized database of all chapters to efficiently track the impact we are making, as well as, have our website and myspace, www.diabeticangels.com and www.myspace.com/diabeticangelsofficial, respectively, to become a well known reliable resource for young people to receive information about how they can become a DA and easily be able to do so with the provided steps online so that the online aspect can run itself accurately and easily. We believe the impact we have made so far has been both vast and immense, as we are now able to better communicate with young people and have gained the help of so many to aid in our effort to expand the DA's. Finally, we realize that there are always improvements and adjustments to be made and we hope that the thousands that we have already helped will continue to help others, as we the original DA's continue to grow and make a difference in more lives each day.

On our website, www.diabeticangels.com, young people can become DA's and in doing so, learn about diabetes, teach others, support diabetics, fundraise, advocate and bring about awareness. There are so many ways to get involved with the Diabetic Angels, please go to our website, www.diabeticangels.com or www.myspace.com/diabeticangelsofficial and feel free to contact us and ask us for more information on how you can help. Mollie and I believe that we have much to be grateful for, and truly enjoy helping others. Also, we hope that the example we set will encourage other young people to give of themselves, for together, if everyone gave just a little, we would cause a rippling effect of caring and giving that would spread around the world, making a difference in the lives of millions.