New Partner in JDRF Bag of Hope Donates Medical ID Bracelets to Children Newly Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes

--JDRF announces Road ID as a new partner in the JDRF Bag of Hope. The medical identification company is providing each JDRF Bag of Hope with a coupon for a personalized Road ID bracelet.--

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- JDRF is excited to announce Road ID as a new partner in the JDRF Bag of Hope, a free resource for children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their caregivers. The JDRF Bag of Hope is a backpack filled with useful and educational T1D-related materials, now including a Road ID medical identification bracelet for longtime favorite Rufus, the Bear with Diabetes, as well as a coupon for a free, personalized Road ID for the newly diagnosed child. The sleek, laser engraved medical identification bracelet is designed for active people of all ages with diabetes.

"The JDRF Bag of Hope is a helping hand during a time that can be very confusing for many children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and their families," says Andrea Hulke, MSW, JDRF's director, national outreach. "This resource is made possible thanks to the generous donations of our partners, and we are excited to be teaming up with Road ID this year. Their commitment to providing high-quality ID products that are both versatile and stylish will help children stay active and safe."

In addition to the Road ID bracelet, the JDRF Bag of Hope includes Rufus, the Bear with Diabetes, the Rufus Comes Home book, A First Book for Understanding Diabetes, other reference books, an educational DVD, and an Accu-Chek® Aviva Compact Blood Meter. Rufus is now the creation of a new partnership between JDRF and Build-A-Bear Workshop®.

Families with children diagnosed with T1D three months ago or less can receive a free JDRF Bag of Hope by contacting their local JDRF chapter. To find the nearest chapter, visit www.jdrf.org/locations. For more information on Road ID, visit www.roadid.com/JDRF.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF's goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people's lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D. As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $530 million in scientific research in 17 countries. In 2012 alone, JDRF provided more than $110 million to T1D research. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.

About Road ID

Road ID was born in the fall of 1999, when Edward Wimmer was training for a marathon and had a close encounter with a motorist.  His father, Co-Founder Mike Wimmer, had voiced concern regarding the fact that he did not carry ID during training.  The near miss was the catalyst for the creation of wearable ID gear for outdoor enthusiasts and those with medical conditions. Our dream is to see the day where wearing ID is as common among athletes as wearing a seatbelt is among motorists. For more information, visit www.RoadID.com.

SOURCE JDRF