A local teen is advocating for more research and clinical funding for youth with Type 1 diabetes, recently travelling to Ottawa to make the case to members of Parliament.
Lucas Makhlouf is a Grade 12 student at Leamington’s Cardinal Carter Secondary School and lives with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at a young age, Makhlouf got involved in advocacy early on.
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He recently applied to be a youth delegate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and to travel to Ottawa to help lobby politicians.
“It was through the encouragement of my parents and my family to get involved at that young age, because surrounding myself with people that also have Type 1 diabetes, along with hearing their stories and being part of that community, is something that truly fosters confidence,” Makhlouf said.
He thanked his Windsor Regional Hospital team for helping him to live with diabetes.
Youth delegates were in Ottawa from Nov. 13 to 15 met with MPs to share more about youth living with diabetes and to make the case for funding: $30 million for clinical research and $5 million for youth mental health.
“All of the members of Parliament were super responsive to what we were saying,” he said. “Very compassionate and understanding of what we’ve gone through and considerate of our ask.”
While in Ottawa, Makhlouf met with Essex MP Chris Lewis, including a member of his staff who also has Type 1 diabetes and said they were extremely responsive to hearing from youth delegates.
The three-day trip included about 30 youth, all with Type 1 diabetes. Makhlouf said he was paired with another youth delegate, Leah, from Lakeshore, who was newly diagnosed.
“It was truly an amazing experience and it showed that … I’m not alone in this,” Makhlouf said.
“It reinforced that sense of community and that people are going through the same struggles as me and it’s not just me who has to fight this journey alone.”
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