Macquarie Bank Wins Award for Diabetes Support

19 February 2007

Macquarie Bank has won the 2007 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Freedom Award after raising more than $350,000 in the past year to find a cure for type 1 (juvenile) diabetes.

A team of 430 Macquarie Bank staff and their families took part in the Walk to Cure Diabetes, raising $140,000, while a further $150,000 was raised when 27 cyclists took on the challenging Ride to Cure Diabetes. Both of these amounts included substantial contributions from the Macquarie Bank Foundation. The remainder of the funds were raised through a series of smaller events and personal donations made during the year.

JDRF CEO, Mike Wilson, said: "The Freedom Award recognises the organisation that makes the most impact on JDRF’s mission to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. A cure would mean freedom for the 140,000 Australians who live with this devastating disease – freedom from a life ruled by insulin injections and finger prick blood sugar tests, and freedom from the fear of long term health complications. JDRF are deeply grateful to Macquarie Bank and its employees for their wonderful contribution."

Staff from Macquarie’s Financial Services Group co-ordinated most of these fundraising efforts. Group Head Peter Maher said: "We are delighted to receive the Freedom Award from JDRF. Macquarie Bank employees are committed to making a significant contribution to diabetes research and those efforts are greatly assisted by the support of the Macquarie Bank Foundation. Raising this money took a great deal of work and I commend everyone involved for their achievement.

"In the time I have been involved with JDRF I have seen the incredible research progress that has been achieved. This has motivated me, and many others at Macquarie, to continue supporting JDRF."

For further information, please contact:

Karen Boalch
Communications Manager
Macquarie Bank Foundation
Tel: (612) 8232 7339
Email: karen.boalch@macquarie.com