ADA chooses 2006-2007 National Youth Advocate
January 9, 2007 by admin
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
The American Diabetes Association has selected 15 year-old Justin Harris of Lexington, Kentucky to serve as the group’s 2006-2007 National Youth Advocate, according to an announcement at the organization’s 3rd annual Community Volunteer Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. Harris will serve for a year as a spokesperson for the ADA, meeting with policy makers, promoting diabetes research and prevention funding, and enlisting young people and adults in the fight against diabetes.
“The National Youth Advocate’s job is to help advocate for adults and children if they have diabetes or not — we need to get our message out,” said Harris. “Every person with diabetes has a story to tell, and I want to hear those stories. I want to hear from them, but I also want to make sure their elected officials hear those stories too.”
Harris was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was six years old. He has been an active volunteer for his local ADA, where he served as Youth Ambassador for the Lexington Walk for Diabetes, helping to raise more than $30,000 for research, as well as implementing a local School Walk for Diabetes. He has met with the Governor and First Lady of Kentucky, a United States Senator, members of his state legislature and a State Supreme Court Justice.
“For the past nine years Justin has led a tireless effort to combat diabetes in his community,” said Darlene Cain, Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association. “His passion and persistence in educating those around him about the seriousness of this disease is admirable. As National Youth Advocate, Justin is taking his commitment to the next level, advocating for all young people currently living with diabetes and strengthening support for diabetes research that will one day, hopefully lead us to a cure.”
Congratulations, Justin. I predict lots of hot diabetic young ladies will want to make your acquaintance soon. Fame and power are both blessing and curse, my friend. Blessing and curse.
(via American Diabetes Association: In Diabetes Today)
I am a school nurse and am interested in contacting Justin Harris to meet with a diabetic support group at my middle school. Do you have a way that I can contact him? Thank You.