Denver Woman Honored For Triumph Over MS
Marketing Executive Captures “Champions of Courage” Award
Washington, DC, May 15, 2000 – Barbara Sullivan, a 35-year-old Denver resident and marketing executive who has battled multiple sclerosis (MS) for eight years, recently received a Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM grant, in recognition for her tremendous accomplishments, despite this often disabling disease. Barbara will use her grant to take an African Safari trip that is designed for people with MS.
The Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM program recognizes the accomplishments of people with MS and provides grants to help people with MS achieve their goals and inspire others.
“Barbara’s courage and perseverance is tremendous,” commented Eric Simons, motivational speaker and chairman of the Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM Board. “We hope her story will inspire others with MS.”
African Safari Adventure
When Barbara Sullivan was diagnosed with MS eight years ago at the age of 27, she hid her disease from everyone except the closest family members. The higher she climbed up the corporate ladder, the more reluctant she became about sharing her disease.
As her MS progressed, however, she could no longer hide her condition. When the demands of her executive-level marketing job in the telecommunications industry began to compromise her health, and she made a courageous decision to leave the corporate world and start her own marketing firm. Today, her firm is thriving, serving major technology and communications companies worldwide.
Barbara’s ability to adapt to her diminishing physical abilities is helping her to continue to enjoy life. Rather than give up on a lifelong dream of going on an African Safari, Barbara pursued an opportunity to participate in an adaptive African Safari being organized specifically for people with MS. The trip will offer relief from the African heat, be exclusively driving and allow plenty of time for rest. She received a Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM grant to help defray the cost of the trip.
Now, she is proud of how she has learned to cope with the disease. “I have become much better at accepting a condition that I cannot control and trusting in therapies that have proven effective,” says Barbara. “And, I get to go on a world-class adventure!”
About the Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM Program
Funded by a grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis 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, 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.
