We have exciting news! Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) is partnering with El Tour de Tucson, and we’re walking to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D) right here in Southern Arizona.
We’re officially on the course, and we want you with us. This is Tucson’s own T1D community showing up in force — neighbors, friends, families, coworkers, all moving toward the same finish line and the same goal: a world without T1D.
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Meet up at 6:30 a.m. | 7:15 a.m. start
5K Run/Walk — a certified 3.1-mile course
Run it, walk it, stroll it, push a stroller through it. Every single pace counts the same.
Use coupon code: BT1D to get your registration and fees covered!
Once you’re on the registration page:
- Under Choose Your Event, click Select A Non-Profit to Ride or Fundraise For
- Scroll to the last option and select 5K Walk/Run Non-Profit Runner
- Select Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) as your nonprofit
- You’ll see a $25.00 event fee and a $2.88 sign-up fee — ignore them. Code BT1D covers your fees.
If the code doesn’t show up at checkout for any reason, just type BT1D into the coupon field before you pay. Save this email so you have it handy.
Bring a team — and fundraise for a cure
Walking is better with your people. Gather your family, your friends, your coworkers, your neighbors — register as a team and take on the course together. Bigger teams mean a louder show of support for everyone in Southern Arizona living with T1D.
While you’re registering, set up your fundraising page on the El Tour platform and raise money for Breakthrough T1D. Share your page with 10 people who care about you and you’ll be surprised how fast it adds up — every dollar goes straight into the research driving toward cures.
Fundraising rewards
The more you raise, the more you unlock. Every milestone you hit earns you Breakthrough T1D gear you can wear and use with pride.
| $100 |
Exclusive Breakthrough T1D Walk shirt, shipped right to your door |
| $250 |
Clear backpack or scarf — your pick |
| $500 |
V1P Club hat, plus a quarter-zip fleece or foldable wireless charger |
| $750 |
Nike fleece hoodie or CamelBak water bottle |
Raise early so your shirt arrives in time to wear on event day. Rewards at $250 and above are selected after the event — watch for an email from [email protected], and choose one item from your highest level reached or any level below. And the rewards don’t stop at $750 — keep going and there’s more waiting.
See all fundraising incentives
Why we walk
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin, an essential hormone that helps the body turn food into energy. Right now there is no cure. Breakthrough T1D funds the research that’s changing what life with T1D looks like today — better therapies, earlier detection, and the breakthroughs on the way to cures.
View the 5k Walk Route Here: 5k Walk Route
