Hy-Vee’s dedication to Breakthrough T1D’s mission is personal.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) first struck the Hy-Vee family in 1921, when company co-founder Charles Hyde’s oldest son, Paul, died from the disease when he was 8 years old.
Since 1998, Hy-Vee has been a trusted partner of Breakthrough T1D, raising nearly $20 million through a variety of corporate and store events, including Walks in the Midwestern and Southern U.S. Hy-Vee also participates in Rides across the country; in 2025, they were recognized as a top fundraising team, bringing in over $230,000 for T1D research.
Hy-Vee’s 2025 in-store fundraising campaign for Breakthrough T1D runs from September 1 through 30. Find your local Hy-Vee here.
Working together for cures
Sam and Lauren Raiche are loyal Hy-Vee customers. They’re also dedicated fundraisers, advocates, and volunteers for Breakthrough T1D. Their 8-year-old son, Alexander, was diagnosed with T1D at age 3.
They appreciate Hy-Vee’s commitment to Breakthrough T1D’s mission. “It means so much to know that a company we already trust and shop with is also supporting a mission so close to our hearts,” Lauren said. “Living with type 1 diabetes is a daily challenge for our family, and seeing Hy-Vee stand behind research and programs that directly impact families like ours makes us feel grateful and supported every time we walk through their doors.”
Alexander represented Kansas at the 2025 Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress. As a Delegate, he met with representatives to advocate for renewal of the Special Diabetes Program, which funds critical type 1 diabetes research. “Advocacy has become a cornerstone of our journey,” Lauren said. “We firmly believe that raising awareness and engaging with the community are essential steps toward making meaningful progress and, ultimately, achieving cures.”
Accelerating cell therapy breakthroughs
Support from partners like Hy-Vee helps fuel that progress toward cures for type 1 diabetes. Breakthrough T1D’s cures portfolio includes cell therapies, which replace destroyed beta cells with protected functional cells to restore insulin therapy independence and glucose control, ideally without immunosuppression.
Over the past decade, Breakthrough T1D has funded more than $156 million in cell therapies research, including partnerships with organizations like Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Sana Biotechnology.
In 2024, Vertex launched a pivotal clinical trial for zimislecel (formerly VX-880), which uses manufactured islets to restore the body’s ability to produce insulin. The therapy, however, requires the use of immunosuppression to protect the transplanted cells from rejection. The islets used in zimislecel are derived from the Breakthrough T1D-funded work of Doug Melton, Ph.D., who first turned precursor cells into insulin-producing cells in 2014.
A 2025 study from Sana Biotechnology showed that hypoimmune (HIP) donor-derived islets are making insulin and avoiding immune detection in the first person treated. The T1D Fund: A Breakthrough T1D Venture invested in Sana to help advance their HIP technology platform.
Breakthrough T1D continues to drive innovation to develop cell replacement therapies and eliminate the need for immunosuppression. With the generosity and support of partners like Hy-Vee and families like the Raiches, we will change the lives of everyone facing type 1 diabetes.
