“It was overwhelming,” recalls Nick Anderson. “My kids kept asking me, ‘How do you know so many people here?’”

Nick is the manager of the pricing team at SanMar. But on Saturday, May 10, he was doing something quite different. He was at Husky Stadium in Seattle with his family, at the 43rd Annual Beat the Bridge event, in support of Breakthrough T1D and the ongoing fight to end type 1 diabetes.

Nick was the captain of Team SanMar, and they were far from the only ones there.

Over 6,500 participants, volunteers and spectators came together that day to join the cause. Some ran, some walked, some gave and some simply cheered everyone else on. Each person there contributed however they could.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects children and adults, requiring constant support. Many who attended the Beat the Bridge event understand this on a personal level—either they or someone in their family has the condition, or they know someone else who does. That’s how it started for Nick.

Getting Involved

Nick has been a part of SanMar for over 20 years. He joined the company in 2003 as an account executive, but soon moved into pricing. Today he oversees that team, which works on savings and incentives for large volume orders, as well as rebates and corporate giving programs.

Several years ago, when no large-scale events were happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nick and his family participated in a neighborhood charity walk to support a family friend whose son had type 1 diabetes.

A year later, their daughter was diagnosed with type 1 as well.

“When Addie was diagnosed, it became much more personal,” Nick remembers.

Breakthrough T1D, known at the time as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was there to help build community and find resources as Addie received treatment and her condition improved. As a part of their support, they gave her a teddy bear she could keep with her through every struggle.

The bear is named Rufus, and he’s still with Addie today.

Getting Support

At a previous Beat the Bridge event, Nick remembers thinking that SanMar could be a part of it too. He knew that Jeremy Lott, president and CEO of SanMar, also has a son with type 1.

“The SanMar DNA kicked in,” Nick recalls.

He brought his idea to Jeremy, first suggesting clothing donations or a volunteer opportunity. He learned that Jeremy was already thinking a little bigger.

Just over a year later, Jeremy let Nick know that “we’ve taken over the whole thing.” SanMar was all in. Starting this year, we are the Presenting Sponsor of the Beat the Bridge event, as well as a National Series Sponsor for the Breakthrough T1D Walk program across the country.

Nick’s response was immediate: “Whatever I can do, I want to help. This may be the biggest thing I’m ever going to be a part of.”

He stepped up to speak at company events, sharing his experience and gathering support. He finds hope in knowing that Jeremy and the whole Lott family has committed so deeply to the cause.

“I’ve seen Jeremy and Marty set countless goals and achieve them all. With them involved, I’ve never felt more like we would find a cure in my daughter’s lifetime.”

Getting Results

This feeling only grew stronger on the morning of May 10.

“It’s not easy getting teenagers up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday,” Nick says with a laugh. “But the kids were all ready to go. ‘This is Addie’s day,’ they said.”

Arriving at the event, many there seemed to know Nick. Other families and teams were also there in support of friends and loved ones struggling with type 1 diabetes.

“You see so many people,” Nick recalls. “Everyone so optimistic and hopeful.”

Over $2.71 million dollars was raised for Breakthrough T1D through this year’s Beat the Bridge event.

This astonishing amount will contribute to the work they do every day: supporting the day-to-day needs of those with type 1, and researching ways to end the condition as we know it.

Through this process, Nick found more than practical support. He discovered a group of people who are here to help, and who he can help in return. And he felt supported by SanMar at every step.

“I’ve been here long enough to know the SanMar difference. But this was a whole other level of community.”

In sharing his story, Nick found that others reached out to share theirs in return. Serving as the Team Captain this year helped him find people who have shared experiences, with whom he can talk about their struggles and successes.

Next Steps

Nick is already thinking about what comes next. “I’d volunteer to take it on again,” he says. “I’d consider it a personal challenge to outdo ourselves next year.”

While the Beat the Bridge event is over for this year, the work of Breakthrough T1D continues. You can find other events around the country to participate in, and you’re welcome to donate anytime.

Type 1 diabetes is a daily struggle for anyone who has the condition, as well as those who step up to help them. People like Nick Anderson, organizations like Breakthrough T1D, and everyone who showed up at this year’s Beat the Bridge event are there to light up the path to finding a cure.

This is how we can end type 1 diabetes: together.