Max Domi – NHL player living with type 1 diabetes – will support JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes events across Canada, raising funds to accelerate the pace of type 1 diabetes research Bell Media becomes National Media Sponsor to amplify JDRF fundraising campaigns
TORONTO, February 7, 2018 – JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Canada is pleased to announce a partnership with 22-year-old National Hockey League (NHL) player Max Domi. Born in Winnipeg, Max was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 12 years old. Refusing to let his diabetes control him, Max was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round, 12th overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft. Max will work with JDRF to increase awareness for type 1 diabetes by sharing his story about living with this chronic disease and lending his voice to help raise funds to support critical type 1 diabetes research advancements. Max will be featured in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes event marketing, encouraging Canadians affected with type 1 diabetes to participate and fundraise: jdrfwalk.ca
JDRF has also partnered with Canada’s leading content creation company, Bell Media, which sees the company become the National Media Sponsor for both the JDRF Walk and JDRF Ride, bringing greater awareness to the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes and the JDRF Revolution Ride to Defeat Diabetes presented by Sun Life Financial. This partnership features extensive multi-media exposure nationwide for JDRF through Bell Media’s premier assets in radio, television and out-of-home advertising, including opportunities with CTV, TSN, Astral and local radio stations.
“We’re proud to partner with JDRF Canada and Max Domi on this important initiative and work together to help drive awareness of this health issue facing Canadians nationwide,” says Alyson Walker, Vice-President, Brand Partnerships, Bell Media. “Bell Media has a strong history of working with community based and national organizations, and we look forward to continuing to grow this relationship with JDRF Canada as they join our growing family of partners.”
“Max is living proof that having type 1 diabetes shouldn’t stand in the way of achieving your goals. JDRF is excited to team up with Max and put a face to this disease by sharing his story and inspiring Canadians to participate in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes,” says Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF. “We are also proud to partner with Bell Media, one of Canada’s largest media and content producers, to help us get Max’s story out in the public and bring greater awareness for the need to raise research dollars.”
Max has a proven passion and dedication to supporting the type 1 diabetes community. Last summer, he launched a GoFundMe.com beard #fundrazor in which he raised over $60,000 for JDRF in a two day period. Max is deeply committed to advancing diabetes research and raising awareness, speaking openly about his diabetes and acting as a strong, inspiring role model for everyone living with this disease.
“You’ve got to control your diabetes, you can’t let it control you,” says Max Domi, Professional Hockey Player of the Arizona Coyotes. “I am so excited to partner with JDRF Canada to help raise funds for the #JDRFWalk to Cure Diabetes. We’re closer than ever to finding a cure and we need your help.”
Max Domi and #JDRFWalk to Cure Diabetes
The #JDRFWalk to Cure Diabetes (jdrfwalk.ca) brings together over 40,000 Canadians from coast to coast to raise $5.4 million to accelerate the pace of type 1 diabetes research. Max will be the face of #JDRFWalk to Cure Diabetes and will host a Virtual Walk inviting people who cannot attend a local walk to set up a Virtual Walk team and start fundraising. Max will be releasing an autobiography later this year and will donate a portion of all book sales to JDRF Canada.
About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada’s leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada’s highest-rated television network; 30 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran. Bell Media is also Canada’s largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 105 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral, an out-of-home advertising network of more than 30,000 faces in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with its CraveTV and GO video streaming services; operates multi-channel network Much Digital Studios; produces live theatrical shows via its partnership with Iconic Entertainment Studios; and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.
About #JDRFWalk to Cure Diabetes
This collective – inspiring – rally is driven by thousands of people whose lives are touched by TYPE 1 DIABETES every day, who are tired of the hardship of this disease, who want to be heard, raise money and change the face of type 1 diabetes forever. Find inspiration, courage and strength from everyone who will walk proudly alongside you, raising money for a cause that is close to your heart – and theirs. For more information on JDRF, please visit www.jdrf.ca or for information on the upcoming Walk to Cure or Virtual Walk, please visit jdrfwalk.ca.
About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of type 1 diabetes from people’s lives until we achieve a world without this disease. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of type 1 diabetes research. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca.
To schedule an interview or for more information on JDRF research and partnerships, please contact:
Lolita Osorio
National Director, Marketing and Communications, JDRF Canada
losorio@jdrf.ca
647.465.5694
Alexa Ciufo
Argyle Public Relationships
aciufo@argylepr.com
416.968.7311 x258