Ten-year-old Cullinan Williams, of Cazenova, New York, is the American Diabetes Associations's
National Youth Advocate for the 2001-2002 year. Cullinan was named National Youth Advocate in June 2001 at
the Philadelphia's 61st Scientific Sessions. For the next year, Cullinan will meet with politicians to discuss
funding for diabetes research, promote diabetes awareness, and meet with kids all over the country to urge them
to take part in diabetes advocacy.
CureNow: Cullinan, you were named National Youth Advocate for the American
Diabetes Association in June. How did you get started in advocacy?
Cullinan Williams: Well, I was the top fundraise in Central New York and I was involved with ADA event
called Team Diabetes, which is where runners run 22.6 miles and they have to do it
in honor of someone. I was an ambassador, that's what they call them, and I made monthy
recruitment speeches. I saw an application for the National Youth Advocate for the ADA
and I had already been on TV many times and I had spoken about diabetes and sure enough,
I got the position.
What do you hope to accomplish this year as National Youth Advocate?
What are your goals?
Well, my goal is to reach everyone every child with diabetes in America so they can
go out and help cure diabetes. Also, my goal as National Youth Advocate is to find a
cure during my term as National Youth Advocate.
In what ways can other kids become more active advocates for diabetes?
Well, a child can become more active by doing an event like America's Walk for Diabetes,
or become an ambassador for Team Diabetes. You can be as involved or uninvolved as you like.
You can go out and do a diabetes event. There are many of them: Kiss a Pig, a Walk, Tour du
Cure, which is a bike race, and Team Diabetes as an Ambassador.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
It's probably my father. He influences me to go out and fundraise door to door
and make speeches and practice them so I do a great job at them. I think he is the biggest
influcence so far.
What kinds of things do you like to do when you aren't being the voice
of diabetic youth?
Well, I do like talking to people and I like playing basketball and I go fishing a lot.
I also collect coins.
Have your friends been supportive with your diabetes?
My friends have been supportive, well, not really with my diabetes, they're not teasing me
about it. But they've said great things to me when I've achieved something. They'll
congratlate me on it and that's a lot of help.
Do they help you raise money?
Yes, lots of them. Some kids raise four hundred dollars every year.
What do you say to someone who says you can't do something because you are
a diabetic?
That hasn't really happened to me. I actually explain diabetes. If someone asks me
what diabetes was, it's just because your body can not produce insulin and they pretty
much understand because lots of people in my school and around my neighborhood, those
are usually the people who ask me questions.
What is your advice for a newly diagnosed diabetic?
My advice to someone is to do what their doctor tells them, test their bloods sugar quite
often, and call me in sixth months after the crisis is over so we can talk about how they're
doing with their diabetes.
Find out more information on the National Youth Advocate at the ADA website: American Diabetes Association.
