Hon. Nancy J. Hartling: Honourable senators, November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and this week, we welcome to the Hill 30 kids with Type 1 diabetes from across Canada, along with their parents, for Kids for a Cure, Les enfants pour une guérison. It is so exciting to have you here with us.

As one of the co-chairs of the All-Party Juvenile Diabetes Caucus, I encourage you to learn about the funding priorities in the JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s, 2023 Pre-Budget Submission and learn about these kids’ reality. JDRF is a leading global organization funding Type 1 diabetes research, and they are absolutely committed to a cure.

This disease affects millions of people, and they will ensure new therapies are developed and address mental health issues common to those with Type 1 diabetes. Thanks to JDRF for all you do.

For me, the reality struck home when Max, my grandson, was diagnosed when he was only two years old. I learned a lot over the past eight years, and he is one of the most important reasons that I am involved with diabetes advocacy. I would like to highlight two very special youth friends with Type 1 diabetes, T1D, who are here with us today from New Brunswick. They have been here visiting us this week.

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I had the pleasure of meeting Vanessa Galluchon and her mother, Judy Roy, from Dieppe, New Brunswick, during the Kids for a Cure event in Ottawa in November 2018. Vanessa was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 13 months old. She is now 16 going on 17. Vanessa told us that living with Type 1 diabetes is not easy and that she is working hard for a cure. She raised $4,815 for the Walk to Cure Diabetes in Moncton. One of her favourite pastimes is riding her horse, Déjà. She will graduate from École Mathieu-Martin in the spring. She hopes to go to university in September. Good luck, Vanessa.

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I also had the pleasure of meeting Mariah Inglis and her father, Robert, in the virtual JDRF meetings with kids with T1D in Atlantic Canada. Mariah is 13 years old, a Grade 8 student living in Sackville, New Brunswick. She was diagnosed with diabetes when she was nine. Mariah has been advocating for a cure by raising awareness, participating in JDRF fundraising walks, speaking at events, holding a bake sale and hosting unique fundraising activities with a focus on diabetic devices. She continues to meet with provincial health policy-makers. In her spare time, Mariah enjoys playing basketball, travelling, baking, water sports and horseback riding. Bravo.

As we move forward, let’s all support JDRF and all of the kids to “make Type 1, Type None.”

Thank you.