Bupa is pleased to announce that from 2012 the nominated charity partner for the Bupa Great Run Series will be Diabetes UK. The charity is set to raise over £1 million a year through the partnership, while also benefiting from the significant exposure the events generate via publicity and TV coverage.
And the partnership won’t stop at the Bupa Great Runs – Bupa and Diabetes UK will also be working together to raise awareness of diabetes through a series of events around the country, helping people to take positive steps to improve their health.
Bupa’s chief executive, Ray King, said: “We’re very much looking forward to working with Diabetes UK and hope to help them raise a significant amount of money to further their essential work. There are 2.8 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes, and an estimated 850,000 people who have diabetes but don’t yet know it. It’s estimated that 5 million people will have diabetes by 2025, so it’s vital that we encourage fundraising to fight the causes and consequences of this chronic condition.”
Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, Barbara Young, said: “We are delighted to be the nominated charity, working with Bupa on the Great Run Series from 2012. Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today, and physical activity helps people reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and to manage their diabetes to reduce complications. The fundraising efforts of runners will go a long way in helping Diabetes UK continue to support people diagnosed with diabetes, fund research into finding a cure and tackle the potential timebomb of the seven million people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.”
Bupa’s current charity partners for the Bupa Great Run Series are Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland, which have raised over £3.5 million during their three-year relationship with the events. Bupa will be continuing its relationship with Alzheimer's Society in the future by supporting its Memory Walk events, a series of walks which take place around the UK.
Now in its 19th year, Bupa’s sponsorship of the Great Run Series is one of the longest running sports sponsorships in the world. Over 160,000 people take part in the Bupa Great Run Series every year, which comprises seven races across the country including the world’s largest half marathon, the Bupa Great North Run, and Europe’s biggest 10 mile race, the Bupa Great South Run. Each year the events raise over £27 million for the 270 charities involved.
For more information on Bupa visit: www.bupa.com
For more information on Diabetes UK visit: www.diabetes.org.uk
For more information on the Bupa Great Run Series please visit www.greatrun.org
