Portal Financial, a Kent-based retirement advice firm, is calling for more awareness of type 1 diabetes as it adds to an already impressive record of generous charitable giving.
The pension specialists, based in Medway, have previously held a number of fundraisers for charity, raising over £12,000 since 2010, with much of this going to the type 1 diabetes charity JDRF.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune condition that has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their families. JDRF exists to find the cure for type 1 diabetes, a condition that cannot be prevented, and which is not linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. The 400,000 people in the UK who live with type 1 diabetes, 29,000 of whom are children, rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive.
Portal Financial was co-founded in 2009 by Jamie Smith-Thompson, then a self-employed Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). Jamie, now managing director, has a very personal connection to type 1 diabetes and the firm has held bake sales, fancy dress competitions, skydives and marathons to raise funds for JDRF.
Speaking of the firm’s fundraising and the lack of awareness of type 1 diabetes, Jamie said: “My six-year-old daughter has type 1 diabetes so raising awareness about the condition is very personal to me. Portal Financial fundraises for JDRF whenever we can and so far we have donated over £3,500. One of our employees is also running the London Marathon this year for JDRF and is trying to raise at least another £2,000.
“As an autoimmune condition, type 1 diabetes is not caused or cured by diet or lack of exercise, and serious funding is needed to try and find a cure for it.”
The latest member of the Portal Financial team to be raising funds for JDRF and type 1 diabetes research is marketing assistant, Claudia Hill, who will run the London Marathon for JDRF.
Claudia said: “Running the London Marathon has always been on my bucket list. Participating in work events for JDRF inspired me to find out more about the charity. When I met Jamie’s daughter at company fundraisers I realised how the condition affects real people. That encouraged me to try and help others in the same position.”
Sue Perrin, regional fundraiser at JDRF added: “Portal Financial is a terrific example of the great charitable fundraising that is possible from dedicated and generous employees. We are honoured to have consistently received donations from the firm which support vital type 1 diabetes research. A big thank you to all at Portal, including Jamie and Claudia, and best of luck to Claudia for the London Marathon!
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