Wednesday
Jun242009
Nick Jonas, Mary Tyler Moore And Sugar Ray Leonard Request Federal Funding For Diabetes Research
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 3:54PM
By Mariko Lamb-Talk Radio News Service
Celebrity witnesses Mary Tyler Moore, Nick Jonas, and Sugar Ray Leonard testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today to stress the importance of diabetes research and urge Congress to renew funding for the Special Diabetes Program, a supplemental federal funding program for diabetes research.
Moore, actress and International Chairman of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said, “today our goal is to persuade our Senators and Representatives to make a promise. We hope you will promise to remember us when you vote on the Special Diabetes Program and other important programs that affect all of us with diabetes.”
World champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, described the financial challenge he faced living with a father struggling with diabetes.
“I had to face the reality of my father’s illness and the incredible medical bills that resulted from his life with diabetes,” he said. “My decision to turn professional was based largely on the desire to help my family cover the costs of my father’s care.”
Jonas, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2005, shared his stories of living with diabetes and urged Congress to fund research to find a cure. “While technology has made it much easier for me to manage my diabetes,” he said, “technology is not a cure. Insulin is not a cure. I know that the promise of a cure lies only in research.”
The Committee’s witnesses were accompanied by Children’s Congress 2009, a delegation of 150 children living with Type 1 diabetes. Children’s Congress was started in 1999, and the delegation has since met five times on Capitol Hill to testify about living with diabetes.
Celebrity witnesses Mary Tyler Moore, Nick Jonas, and Sugar Ray Leonard testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today to stress the importance of diabetes research and urge Congress to renew funding for the Special Diabetes Program, a supplemental federal funding program for diabetes research.
Moore, actress and International Chairman of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said, “today our goal is to persuade our Senators and Representatives to make a promise. We hope you will promise to remember us when you vote on the Special Diabetes Program and other important programs that affect all of us with diabetes.”
World champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, described the financial challenge he faced living with a father struggling with diabetes.
“I had to face the reality of my father’s illness and the incredible medical bills that resulted from his life with diabetes,” he said. “My decision to turn professional was based largely on the desire to help my family cover the costs of my father’s care.”
Jonas, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2005, shared his stories of living with diabetes and urged Congress to fund research to find a cure. “While technology has made it much easier for me to manage my diabetes,” he said, “technology is not a cure. Insulin is not a cure. I know that the promise of a cure lies only in research.”
The Committee’s witnesses were accompanied by Children’s Congress 2009, a delegation of 150 children living with Type 1 diabetes. Children’s Congress was started in 1999, and the delegation has since met five times on Capitol Hill to testify about living with diabetes.
Reader Comments (2)
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I think this is soooooo great! Its impressive to see celebrities from different backgrounds and fame walks come together for a common cause! Nick Jonas reps the children and young demo of the world. Mary Tyler Moore reps all the women and family while Sugar encompasses the athletes of the world! I cant think of a better athlete to fight this cause! The man is so genuine and personable. Always has been, especailly with his fans! I wish I could afford to attend the poker tournament he will be in this fall in the Bahamas!