VF Outlet is hosting a “Gear Up for Adventure” fundraiser to officially kick off the spring travel season on May 11. The travel-themed shopping event hopes to raise awareness and collect donations that will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

“We are so proud of our partnership with the JDRF and look forward to supporting a wonderful organization in occasion of Gear Up for Adventure,” said Michele Colonna, VF Outlet vice president of marketing.

Throughout the day, stores will be accepting donations, with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to the JDRF.

“Since our founding, JDRF has funded more than $2 billion in research and made significant progress in understanding and fighting type 1 diabetes,” said Amanda O’Neill, corporate partnerships at JDRF national manager. “Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications, and we are very grateful to the entire VF Outlet team and community for helping us to move that mission forward.”

The fundraiser will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the North Bend Premium Outlets at 521 South Fork Ave., North Bend.