Diabetes UK has won the most lucrative charity of the year partnership in the UK, as supermarket giant Tesco pledges to raise £10m for the charity in 2013.
The fundraising partnership, if its targets are achieved, could be transformational for Diabetes UK, which, for the last year on record (2011) raised £23.45m in voluntary income. The £10m boost from Tesco would see that increase by over 40 per cent.
The announcement today marks the sixth time in as many years that the supermarket giant has elected to support a health-related charity as its charity of the year. The last time Tesco supported a non-health or medical research charity was in 2007, when British Red Cross held the partnership.
It is the second time the supermarket chain has given itself such a large target. Tesco set a £10m fundraising goal for its previous partner, Cancer Research UK after raising £7.5m for Alzheimer’s Society in 2011.
Tesco intends to raise money for Diabetes UK over the course of 2013 via staff fundraising – which the Tesco Charity Trust will top up to a maximum value of £500,000 – as well as special promotional products and a 0.0125p donation every time a Tesco ATM is used.
The supermarket's donation will fund research into type 1 diabetes (the type not impacted by lifestyle) and to boost awareness and provide advice on type 2 diabetes, which is related to lifestyle and obesity.
Diabetes UK chief executive Barbara Young (pictured left) said she was delighted with Tesco’s choice. “This will make a real difference in curbing the rise in the condition by funding the biggest ever public health campaign on risk factors and symptoms of type 2 diabetes,” she said.
The partnership was announced as new figures show 3 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with a form of diabetes.
Rebecca Shelley (right), Tesco’s group corporate affairs director, said: “We have the opportunity to inspire our colleagues and customers to come together, raise awareness and much needed funds to help the millions of people with diabetes in the UK.”
Previous Tesco charity of the year partners
2013 – Diabetes UK
2012 – Cancer Research UK
2011 – Alzheimer’s Society
2010 – Clic Sargent
2009 – Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
2008 – Marie Curie Cancer Care
2007 – British Red Cross
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