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Fundraising dinner raises over £250,000 for Breakthrough T1D on World Diabetes Day

The fifth Sugarplum Dinner, hosted by Jubie Wigan saw supporters come together to help fund our mission to cure type 1 diabetes and make everyday life better for everyone who faces it.
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Breakthrough T1D staff 18 November 2024
A photo from the Sugarplum Dinner of Albin Lee Meldau, Jubie Wigan and Jack Savoretti wearing black tie, standing for a photo in front of a screen that says Sugarplum Children and Breakthrough T1D.

Albin Lee Meldau, Jubie Wigan and Jack Savoretti at the Sugarplum Dinner. Photo: KFH Photography

The event, held on Thursday 14 November, raised over £250,000 which will help fund our global research into cures and better treatments for type 1.

Jubie Wigan chaired the event, along with co-Chair Rupert Whitten, through her organisation Sugarplum Children.

She said: “I can’t thank everyone enough for their continued love and generosity. The camaraderie in the room was quite something, every single table at the dinner had a link to T1D. The ultimate goal is to eradicate type 1 altogether and with the kind of support we received at this event, I truly believe this is a possibility in our lifetime. The love of a parent, combined with copious amounts of generosity, can make things happen.”

Funding research to cure T1D

Sugarplum Children, founded by Jubie Wigan in 2013 after her daughter, Aliena, was diagnosed with T1D, has raised over £3.2 million for Breakthrough T1D’s global research, funding 20 research projects.

The money raised at the 5th Sugarplum Dinner will continue to fund our international research programme, which brings together the brightest minds from across the globe to focus on the most promising areas of type 1 diabetes research.

The evening included a performance by Jack Savoretti and Albin Lee Meldau. There was a silent and live auction offering money can’t (usually) buy prizes, all generously donated by Sugarplum Children supporters.

Karen Addington, CEO of Breakthrough T1D UK, said: “Our amazing Breakthrough T1D supporters, inspired and led by Jubie and Rupert, have again delivered the most spectacular Sugarplum event to help drive forward advances in T1D research. Seeing such generous support and so many people rally around this cause was truly inspiring. Thank you to Jubie, Rupert and everyone who made the evening such a success.”

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