3 million pound donation could accelerate research to find a type 1 diabetes cure

A businessman and philanthropist has made the largest ever UK donation to JDRF after his stepson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Steve Morgan CBE, founder and chairman of building firm Redrow, pledged £3 million after his wife Sally Morgan’s son developed the condition in 2017.
Hugo was diagnosed aged seve, leading to a desire from the family to raise awareness of the condition and fund research.
The money has been donated from the Steve Morgan Foundation and JDRF say it will go towards supporting research into smart insulin and immunotherapy as well as artificial pancreas technology.
The charity say it will enable them to accelerate clinical trials and boost research towards finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. It will also go towards improving technology and ensures access to it, JDRF reported.
JDRF’s UK Chief Executive Karen Addington said: “This £3 million donation from the Steve Morgan Foundation is an incredible sum of money and a transformational contribution towards our work to eradicate type 1 diabetes. We will find the cure – it’s just a question of time, great researchers and generous donors.
“Everyone at JDRF is extremely grateful to the Morgans for their interest i, and support of our work and we look forward to a long, productive and collaborative relationship with the Foundation.”
The foundation was formed in 2001 to support good causes with £30m committed so far to more than 600 charities. Steve Morgan CBE has previously been a chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.
He said: “My wife Sally and I have experienced first-hand the tremendous impact that a type 1 diabetes diagnosis can have on a family. From the initial stages of Hugo experiencing symptoms of diabetes, to him being diagnosed and finding out how we manage this life-long condition it has turned our lives upside down.
“We are in a fortunate position to be able to make a difference, and we hope this donation will be a significant step towards funding research that we believe will be life-changing for all the ‘Hugos’ of the world.
“We fully support JDRF’s ambition to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes and one day to eradicate the condition for good. With an average of 16 people across the UK diagnosed each day, we want to raise awareness of the condition so that other families are aware of the symptoms and treatments for the condition.”