Rite Aid Pharmacists Across the Country Lead the Way to Help Find a Cure for Diabetes; Pharmacists Captain Walk Teams to Raise Funds for the American Diabetes Association Through ”America’s Walk for Diabetes”
The Rite Aid Foundation Donates $50,000 to the ADA’s “America’s Walk for Diabetes”
This fall Rite Aid pharmacists are going the extra mile, or miles, to find a cure for diabetes. Through the Company’s commitment to diabetes care, and its ongoing collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Rite Aid pharmacists will lead teams of walkers in the ADA fundraiser, “America’s Walk for Diabetes.” Rite Aid teams will participate in markets where the company is located to raise funds and help find a cure for the life threatening disease. Customers can sign up to walk or support the Rite Aid “Walk with a Pharmacist for Diabetes” program at all participating stores.
Beginning this weekend, Rite Aid pharmacists will lead local teams in nearly 100 ADA “America’s Walk for Diabetes” fundraising walks. From San Diego, California, to Portland, Maine, Rite Aid associates and customers will walk and raise money to fund diabetes research and sponsor programs and activities promoting diabetes awareness, outreach and advocacy. Rite Aid will participate in walks from August 26 – November 5 in local cities and towns across the chain. The Rite Aid Foundation, the company’s not-for-profit foundation dedicated to helping people in the communities Rite Aid serves, has committed to donate $500 for every “Walk with a Pharmacist for Diabetes” event for an overall donation of $50,000 to the American Diabetes Association.
“For over five years Rite Aid has focused on being the pharmacy of choice for people living with diabetes,” said Phil Keough, Rite Aid senior vice president of pharmacy operations. “Our pharmacists are specially trained in diabetes care and we offer an extensive selection of products geared to improve diabetes management. Annually we run an in-store diabetes educational program where our pharmacist work personally with patients to help them live healthier lives and we also run a chain-wide fundraiser that directly benefits the American Diabetes Association. Our ‘Walk with a Pharmacist for Diabetes’ program is another way we can continue to support Diabetes management and one day, help find a cure.”
According to the ADA, there are nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. Every step taken during Rite Aid’s “Walk with a Pharmacist for Diabetes” program will help bring researchers closer to finding a cure and offer important programs to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.
“By taking such a leadership role in the ADA’s national fundraiser, ‘America’s Walk for Diabetes’, Rite Aid pharmacists, associates and customers will join 200,000 people from all walks of life who are making a difference in our ongoing education and research efforts,” said Larry Smith, Chairman of the Board, American Diabetes Association. “The ADA is pleased to have Rite Aid and its individual pharmacists commit to supporting our mission by participating and leading teams in this very important fundraising effort.”
Customers can also sign up to walk with or support their local Rite Aid “Walk With a Pharmacist For Diabetes” team by visiting www.riteaid.com, or by logging onto www.diabetes.org/walk-riteaid.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE, PCX:RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with annual revenues of $17.3 billion and approximately 3,320 stores in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.