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©2009 YPS - Used with permission
THIS I BELIEVE
The highlight of all my achievements was the honor of being presented with the Michael Brennan Courage Award
by the Boomer Esiason Foundation in March. It was an incredible experience!!
Many thanks to the Boomer Esiason Foundation for all they do for patients living with cystic fibrosis.
To view my acceptance speech, Click here
College!!!!
Wow!
I finished my Freshman Year of College--Dean's List!
I made the adjustment to college very easily. I was able to manage my classes and my medical treatments with only a few minor bumps. This summer I traveled to England and Germany and had a great time!
I am exploring the idea of going on a clinical drug trial for cystic fibrosis this year. I will talk to my doctors to see if this would be the right choice, since the trial is being done at a different CF Center than the one I normally go to.
JDAC
Thanks to my friends
and the nurses, I initiated a club called the Juvenile Diabetes Awareness
Club (JDAC) my freshman year in high school. Together with members of the community, and the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. our club has already raised over $51,000 in 4 years. My goal is raise awareness
of the growing epidemic of diabetes in the
United States and to continue to
send children to camp in the summer to learn what is necessary to live with
diabetes!
I decided since I am moving to a higher level that
I have changedthe name of my organization to the
Juvenile Diabetes Awareness Coalition (JDAC).
The future goals of the organization will change a little and
broaden to service more people affected by diabetes.There will be more to come on www.jdac.info.
Here is the new logo!
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I had the greatest opportunity to launch the New Jersey chapter
of the
Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease in April 2008. To read more about it link to: NJ League of Municipalities
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On April 16th, I was invited to be in the audience for the Obama/Clinton Debate in Historic Philadelphia. What an amazing experience! I got to see up close and personal the candidates for the Democratic Party, but was very disappointed that there were no questions about healthcare reform.
This will be my first time voting in November and wow the most important presidential election of my time. I hope my vote can make a difference!
See my interview on the Doctor's Channel by clicking here
and an article in the Toronto Star by clicking here
Healthcare Reform plays an important role in the management of cystic fibrosis & diabetes.
It is important to know how any changes will affect you or a family member!
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 The Diabetes Foundation has subsidized the cost of sending children to Camp Nejeda since the early 1990s. They have teamed up with JDAC for the last two years by matching funds up to $5,000 each year to raise additional money for camperships. Thank you for taking on the CHALLENGE and sharing the same mission as JDAC!
 As part of my mission to help other diabetics, I applied for a "Keep the Drive" grant with the goal of starting a program called "Smart Driving for the Diabetic Teenager." The first presentation will be during staff week at Camp Nejeda this summer and I have already been asked to do others, which is so great. Thanks to my fellow classmate, Vinny, who designed the t-shirt for the first event. I will post it once it is finalized. The shirt is soooo cool, take my word for it!
LillyforLife Achievement Award
 
On October 26, 2004, I was presented with the LillyforLife Achievement Award: Presented in the "Young Champions" (patients 17 and under) category in recognition of outstanding contribution to the diabetes community. This prestigious honor came with a $1,000 award to be given to my favorite charity. I chose Camp Nejeda, a summer camp for diabetics. Highlighted in a press release and story featured on the website, www.lillydiabetes.com
In April 2004, I was recognized as being one of the
Top 100 Volvo for Life Award winners
My picture was up in
Times Square, NYC!
How cool is that!
This award recognizes those who have done extraordinary things
in their lives to help others and I am proud to be part of the
Volvo for Life 2 Featured Heroes for 2004!
Cruise on over to read all the stories on
Volvo for Life Awards website
and if you know a hero . . .
the 2006 nomination process
has started!
Recent Honors
 I was selected as one of 300 state winners of a 2007 Discover® Card Tribute Award® Scholarship!
State winners are selected from all applicants (25,400 high school juniors around the country) based on overall excellence in the areas of leadership and community service while successfully overcoming a hardship or challenge and have maintained a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average to qualify. It comes with a $2,500 scholarship too!
I was recognized as an Energizer® Keep Going® Hall of
Fame semifinalist! I was one of 100 amazing people that has the
spirit of the Energizer Bunny®. They felt that I have embraced life with a
never-quit attitude.
I keep on going and going and ...
 I was nominated to represent my high school for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards which honors outstanding community service by young Americans for the last three years. I look forward to being a role model for my school as well as the communities I serve. As of yet, I have not been picked in NJ, but I have not given up yet!
Although I have not been picked as a State representative, based on the number of volunteer hours, the judges have nominated me for The President's Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation! I received the Gold Award for committing over 100 hours in a 12 month period as a 14 and 16 year old. I urge all Americans to dedicate their time to the community.
In 2005, I was named as an International Diabetes Youth Ambassador (IDYA). Read my story at the following link: Sarah Yourman
 
My mom and I were named to the PhRMA Speakers Bureau. I have done a couple of speaking engagements and appeared in a couple of magazines and newspapers on Capitol Hill in April. Link
I also had a chance to speak at the re-launch of the "Partnership for Prescription Assistance"...first one hundred days.
 
It has been my pleasure to help launch the RX4NJ program. Rx4NJ.org is a program that connects qualified, low-income people with prescription drug assistance programs, direct from the pharmaceutical manufacturer. They offer a single point of access to public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
I introduced a new program to recognize and profile exceptional people living with cystic fibrosis called the Genentech Heroes of Hope program. There is a webstream in the upper right corner of the page that introduces the program with me narrating!
Check my brother Jeffrey and I hanging on the side of a building on Genentech's campus in California! We both take Pulmozyme and Nutropin AQ and have the honor of telling the story about our success with Nutropin Growth Hormone. In addition, Pulmozyme has allowed us to lead a normal life since it was approved 10 years ago for cystic fibrosis patients. Thanks Genentech for everything that you have done for all the CF patients. My goal is to tell people about our story and to show the world that CF patients can do anything they want to do!
Look for me as an "Everyday Hero Living with Cystic Fibrosis" on the TOBI website for 2004. Inhaling TOBI has made a big difference in my life! (It is not recommended for everyone). I am also in great company with the other heroes in the calendar and on the website!
I am always in touch with all the congressional representatives and the Governor at the state level to pursued each one of them to implement Disease Management programs for diabetes, cystic fibrosis, asthma and heart disease under the Medicaid Program. These management programs empower patients to follow their healthcare plan and provides for cost savings to the State of New Jersey. I try to stay involved with activities to advocate for all patients with cystic fibrosis and diabetes. In June 2003, I went to Trenton NJ and spoke out about preferred drug lists: check out the article: CAPITAL REPORT: MCGREEVEY RETHINKS PREFERRED DRUG LIST (after Sarah Yourman speaks ;-) . . . just kidding.) If you would like to help, contact the representatives in your area!
 My "advocacy" career started when I was six. As you can see from the picture on the left, I was always by my Mom's side when it came to helping her discuss what it is like living with a chronic illness. During this time period the main focus was healthcare reform both in the State of New Jersey and at the Federal level. I later helped with HIPPA, newborn screening in NJ which was one of the initial States in 1999 (CO and WI were the first) to test newborns for cystic fibrosis. I spoke at the launch of RX4NJ that helps NJ residents with prescription assistance programs.
My main focus now is "kids helping kids" especially to help empower other kids dealing with a chronic illness to have the knowledge to advocate for themselves.
Sarah is an amazing athlete and incredible role model. She is fourteen years old and is actively involved in freestyle skiing as well as competitive downhill skiing. What is so incredible about her story is that Sarah suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, a life shortening progressive lung disorder, Diabetes, and Asthma. She is making the most out of her life and has a smile on her face everyday no matter what!!
Hannah Hardaway (2002 Olympic Mogul Skier) said it best
"Sarah is one of those people everyone wants to be around.
She radiates happiness and energy,
reminding us all that there are no boundaries
to what we can accomplish if we put our heart and soul in it!"
Sarah Yourman is truly an inspiration to us all!
Once you have read my site
Please sign my guestbook
Click here to enter
SKIING
Have never seen me ski and want to watch a short slide show
Well, here it is thanks to Imagine Studios
and my mom and dad (they took the videos and pictures)!
Click here
to view the show
Not bad for a girl from New Jersey, very far from the ski capitol of the world and of course living with cystic fibrosis and diabetes.
 
©2005 YPS - Used with permission
Super Size Me - Morgan Spurlock
Catch a glimpse of me and my artwork in the now famous "Super Size Me" documentary. I have a small cameo role at the end of the movie and the wonderful belly art!. Thanks Morgan for all you have done for me and my family and your support for JDAC. I still remember you from the volleyball event, many years ago, spiking the ball over the net so that I could win a t-shirt. You and Alex are the greatest! Hugs and kisses to Laken, he is so adorable!
  
Morgan and I skiing together before fame, his belly at the "Super Size Me" 30 day party and my cameo appearance!!!
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