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Eleven "Champions" Honored For Triumph Over MS
Betaseron® Champions of Courage Program Issues ‘Call for Applicants’
Washington, DC, Mar 29, 2000 – The Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM program recently awarded grants to six individuals, bringing to 11 the total number of people with MS who have received financial grants to support their inspirational activities. The Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM program was introduced by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 1999 to help people with MS achieve their goals and inspire others. The following individuals are among the most recent grant recipients:
- Lisa Eorio, Charlottesville, VA will use her grant to underwrite a 12-week exercise program for community members with MS, utilizing a physical therapist and sports psychologist from the University of Virginia. The program will be structured to help participants begin a life-long commitment to fitness and wellness.
- Julie Full-Lopez, Godfrey, IL will use her grant to publish a book she has written for people with MS. Lopez, a college English professor, was an Olympic Torchbearer in 1996.
- Michael Muir, Woodland, CA will use his Champions of Courage grant to help defray costs to participate in the World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities, in Austria in August 2000. A life-long horseman, Muir learned to drive horses when he was no longer able to ride. He was a bronze medallist in the 1998 Drivers with Disabilities Championship.
- Michael Miner, Miller Place, NY will use a Champions of Courage grant to develop an accessibility and usability guide for restaurants, hotels and medical facilities in his Long Island community. A former teacher, Miner will use high school students to complete the surveys as part of their Community Relations class.
- Barbara Sullivan, Denver, CO will apply her grant toward participation in an assisted African safari. She will journal the trip to inspire other people battling chronic conditions.
- Pam Hensley's, Dallas, TX grant will help her fulfill a dream of participating in 10-12 ‘MS 150’ Bike Tours across the country. She will raise funds for MS research and give motivational talks to fellow riders.
"We are honored to be able to support so many courageous individuals," says Eric Simons, chairman of the Champions of Courage Advisory Board. "We hope this program will continue to identify people who will inspire and motivate others."
Applying for a Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM Grant
Funded by a grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM program provides grants to people taking the MS medication Betaseron® who have demonstrated unique courage or initiative in overcoming MS. To apply for a grant of up to $7,000, individuals must be taking Betaseron®, describe their community service activities, and outline how they will use a grant to inspire others. Applications can be obtained by visiting www.championsofcourage.org, or by calling 1-202-363-3378. Applications are reviewed three times per year: in February, June and October.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that randomly attacks the central nervous system, affecting the brain and spinal cord, wearing away control over the body. Symptoms may range from numbness to paralysis and blindness. No cure exists; however, therapies to treat symptoms and reduce the number and severity of attacks are available. MS afflicts up to 350,000 people in the U.S.
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