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While most children, and probably most adults, would be too hesitant to approach the president of the United States, 11-year-old Sara Jacob was not afraid to introduce herself when the opportunity arose last week.

After all, she had a message for him.

The Olney resident said she hopped off her seat on the back lawn of the White House and handed President Obama a business card and a pin bearing her name.

Sara was one of approximately 150 youths from around the world who visited the president June 23 during the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's Congress, an event held every other year since 1999 that allows children ages 4 to 17 to visit with lawmakers to urge them to support finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.

They also met Mary Tyler Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard and Nick Jonas of the pop group Jonas Brothers, all of whom have diabetes.

Sara said Obama told the children he was proud of them for their advocacy work and bravery.

As he was leaving, the girl saw her window of opportunity. She walked up to Obama and asked that he remember her when the time comes to approve funding for diabetes research.

"I was a little bit nervous because he is the president of the United States and he's famous, but overall he seemed like a really nice guy and that he cared about finding a cure for diabetes," she said.