Tops Friendly Markets exceeded its campaign goal and raised $333,629 for Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization. This year’s campaign ran from March 2 through March 22. The dollars donated by generous Tops customers and associates help to fund research in the effort to find a cure for T1D.
T1D is an autoimmune disease that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all, leading to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and long-term complications. It was once viewed as a condition that could only be diagnosed in childhood, but now it is known that T1D can develop at any age, with half of all T1D diagnoses in adults.
The paper sneaker, which was designed by a Tops associate back in 1993 and is now widely used nationally as well as internationally in fundraising campaigns, was sold at Tops registers for a $1 donation. Supporting this year’s campaign was Buffalo’s hometown team long snapper, Reid Ferguson, who was on this year’s sneaker and was instrumental in the campaign’s success. Reid is passionate about this cause as his younger brother Blake, who is also a long snapper, but for Miami, has T1D.
Since 1993 Tops has raised over $15 million dollars for the cause, with Tops fund-raising efforts elevating the company to national partner status as of this year.
Provided information
