A collaboration between Tesco and Diabetes UK has raised £18m at the same time as highlighting the risks and dangers of developing diabetes.
During the campaign over 200,000 of Tesco’s staff and customers checked their vulnerability to type 2 diabetes, with nearly a third discovering they were at moderate to high risk of developing the condition.
Diabetes is one of the biggest threats to health facing the UK today. Nearly four million adults and children live with diabetes, and over 11 million are at a high risk of developing it.
Tesco encouraged every one of its 300,000 employees to support the partnership. Their fund-raising efforts, in-store and in local communities, raised the £18m in less than two years.
The collaboration also went far beyond fundraising. Tesco highlighted the risk and dangers of developing type 2 diabetes through its stores, pharmacies, magazine and social media. Customers and employees were able to check whether they were at risk through online resources and in-store pharmacies.
The money raised will be used for a range of projects that cover type 1 and type 2 diabetes. For example, £4m will be used for immunological research for a vaccine that could lead to the eradication of type 1 diabetes. The partnership has also provided support for a million people to help them manage their diabetes, for example, by extending the hours of the Diabetes UK Careline.
Building on the success of the campaign, Tesco has set up a three-way charity partnership with Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation with the aim of raising £30m over three years.
