SanMar renews sponsorship of Seattle’s ‘Beat the Bridge’ race

SanMar, a supplier of wholesale accessories and apparel, served for the second year as the presenting sponsor of Seattle’s Beat the Bridge for Breakthrough T1D, a charity race now in its 44th year. The event benefits Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, formerly known as JDRF.

This year’s event took place at Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus on May 9. Participants challenged themselves on the 8K race, 3-mile walk, 1-mile fun run, or joined the crowd-favorite Diaper Derby. Beat the Bridge brings together thousands of runners, walkers, and families in support of the T1D community, highlighting both competition and community spirit.

SanMar, headquartered in nearby Issaquah, Washington, also operates a distribution center in the Seattle area and is deeply committed to the local community. “Breakthrough T1D isn’t just an organization we support. It’s provided a community for my family and for others at SanMar who live with type 1 diabetes,” shared Jeremy Lott, president and CEO of SanMar. “I’ve seen firsthand how our shared commitment is translating into real progress across research, advocacy, and care. By continuing this work together, we’re helping advance better treatments and move closer to a cure for millions.”

Lott’s personal commitment to T1D began in 2022 when his son was diagnosed, and the family connected with Breakthrough T1D’s resources and community.

“As a local and national sponsor, we’re committed to supporting a cause that affects so many individuals and families,” said Jennifer Larson, chief people officer at SanMar. “Beat the Bridge has long been part of the fabric of our community. Partnering with Breakthrough T1D allows us to support meaningful research and show up in a way that reflects who we are. — people who believe connection and action can make a real difference.”

Last year, the Beat the Bridge event raised over $2.71 million and hosted more than 6,500 participants, fueling Breakthrough T1D’s mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications.

SanMar’s second-year leadership in Beat the Bridge aligns with its broader national role as a Breakthrough T1D Walk National Series sponsor, expanding its support for research, advocacy, and awareness. The company joins fellow sponsors, including Ford, The Boyle Family, RH Brown/Toyota Automated Logistics, Seattle Kraken One Roof Foundation, and PACCAR.

Beat the Bridge, founded by Nordstrom in 1983, is now the largest Breakthrough T1D Walk event in the U.S. The marathon-qualifying 8K adds a unique twist: runners must cross the University Bridge before the drawbridge is raised, with entertainment for those who miss the cutoff.

“Breakthrough T1D is thrilled to have SanMar’s partnership as a National Series and Beat the Bridge for Breakthrough T1D sponsor, and we’re deeply grateful for their commitment to our mission, which we know is personal to many of their employees,” said Breakthrough T1D Senior Vice President of Field Engagement Karen Abrahamson. “SanMar’s leadership helps ensure that Breakthrough T1D walks continue to provide opportunities for the T1D community to meaningfully engage with one another and foster long-lasting connections while raising money for research that is accelerating progress toward cures for T1D.”