Wall Township Girl Advocates For Type 1 Diabetes Funding At U.S. Capitol

WALL, NJ — A Wall Township girl was among a group of young advocates who recently returned to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to dedicate more funding to Type 1 Diabetes research.

Ainsley Kelly, 8, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at 10 months old and is one of the youngest delegates from the NJ Metro and Rockland County Chapter of Breakthrough T1D who represented New Jersey at the 2025 Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress.

Kelly, along with four others from the NJ Metro and Rockland County Chapter, was among 170 children from across the nation who came to speak directly with members of Congress about the urgent need for continued research funding and support for the T1D community.

A biennial event, the Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress aims to provide a powerful platform for children affected by T1D where they can share personal stories and educate lawmakers on the daily challenges of managing the autoimmune disease.

This year’s delegation highlighted the critical importance of federal funding for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), which has been instrumental in advancing T1D research and developing new therapies.

Throughout the event, delegates engaged in face-to-face meetings with NJ’s congressional representatives and their staff, urging them to prioritize legislation that supports T1D research and access to affordable insulin and technology.

The delegates also emphasized that T1D is a lifelong, unpreventable autoimmune disease that affects millions worldwide — including thousands of children and adults in New Jersey.

During the Children’s Congress, Ainsley visited with a staff member from Representative Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) office and, as a team, the delegates visited NJ Senator Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) and Andy Kim’s (D-NJ) offices, delivering the same intense and heartfelt messages through their personal stories and sharing individual scrapbooks that they each made.

The culmination of the D.C. visit was in a U.S. Senate Committee of Appropriations chaired by Senator Susan Collins from Maine, where selected T1D delegates testified before the congressional panel, further amplifying their message and demonstrating the impact of T1D on their lives and families.

“It was an unforgettable experience to be able to go to Capitol Hill and represent New Jersey,” Ainsley said. “I got to share my story about my experience of going to school with Type 1 Diabetes and how it affects my daily life while trying to learn.”

“Living with T1D means missing class for insulin administration, being woken up at night by alarms, and sometimes even sitting out in gym or spending time in the nurse’s office,” Ainsley continued. "I told Senator Kim how sad it made me that I didn’t get to finish some of my art projects for the school art show because I had to go to the nurse to get insulin during my art period."

Ainsley went on to describe the trip as “the best three days” being around so many other kids who have to take care of themselves like she does.

She added that she and other attendees were able to speak about their technology and favorite low treatments during the trip — noting that it was “so funny to hear the many alarms going off during meal times.”

Going forward, Ainsley said she wants representatives in D.C. to understand what this funding can do not only for kids like her, but for all those living with T1D.

“I want our representatives in Washington, D.C. to understand that research funding will continue to help improve the quality of life for everyone living with T1D, and hopefully one day, a cure, so that no child has to live with it,” Ainsley said.

After she was diagnosed with T1D at 10 months old, Ainsley does not remember a life without managing her chronic condition. She and her family have been involved with BreakthroughT1D ever since.

As a family, they participate annually in walks with her team “Ainsley’s Army.” In 2019, her dad, Christopher Kelly, ran the NJ Half Marathon on (then) team JDRF to raise funds and awareness, while her mother, Aileen Kelly, has been active as an outreach volunteer and local meet-up volunteer over the years.

On Aug. 27, Ainsley will be recognized with a proclamation by Wall Township for her efforts in raising awareness and advocacy at their public business meeting.

“Our New Jersey Metro and Rockland County New Jersey delegates truly embodied the spirit of advocacy,” said Sapna Bhambhani, New Jersey Metro and Rockland County’s Breakthrough T1D Chapter Board President.

Bhambhani, who attended the Senate Hearing on July 9th and also visited legislators with her daughter, Sarina Sherman.

“Their voices are powerful, and their commitment to finding a cure is inspiring,” Bhambhani continued. “We are so proud of their efforts in Washington and their dedication to making a difference for everyone impacted by Type 1 Diabetes.”

In addition to Ainsley, the other NJ Metro and Rockland County Delegates included:

• Becca Goodes: 17, Fair Haven, NJ
• Sarina Sherman: 17, Westfield, NJ
• Aiden Prybicien: 16, Clifton, NJ
• Daniel McCue: 13, Matawan, NJ

These delegates will spend the next year continuing to advocate for all those with T1D. For more information and videos of the delegates, you can click here.

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• Matawan Boy, 13, Speaks At U.S. Capitol About Need For Type 1 Diabetes Funding