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Washington, DC, November 3, 2005 – The Betaseron^® Champion of Courage^TM (BCC) program announced that Cindy Ray, 57, of Louisville, KY, has received a grant to support the work of Paws with Purpose which provides trained service dogs to people living with disabilities in the Kentucky and Indiana area. Paws with Purpose dogs are trained to perform many day-to-day tasks for people with limited mobility, such as retrieving dropped objects, opening doors, reaching tall counters, turning lights off and on, and pulling manual wheelchairs. The Betaseron Champions of Courage grant will help to enable three people with MS in the Kentucky and Indiana area to obtain highly skilled service dogs by early 2007.

“Cindy has experienced for herself the many ways dogs can enhance the independence and self-worth of people in need. Her dedication to bringing the service dog program to more people with MS is inspiring, and we are proud to support her efforts,” said Eric Simons, Advisory Board Chairman of the Betaseron Champions of Courage program and a motivational MS speaker.

A Purpose in Life

Cindy learned that she had MS at age 49, one day after she received her college diploma. She took a leave of absence from her job as a substance abuse counselor at a state mental hospital to adjust to her condition and to her every-other-day injections of medicine. In spite of extreme fatigue and other symptoms, she felt well enough to return to work. But there were other challenges in store for Cindy. In 1997, six months after her diagnosis, she was involved in a serious automobile accident. The trauma exacerbated her symptoms and forced her to retire. Feeling isolated and insecure, she withdrew from her normal activities as a wife, mother and grandmother.

Cindy’s love of dogs and involvement with Paws with Purpose proved to be the cure for her depression. She helped with puppy training and took the puppies wherever she went. As her confidence grew, she pursued another passion – making sculptures. Armed with a hot glue gun, she created works of art incorporating her used syringes and objects from her garage. Not long after, her work was displayed at the Louisville chapter of the National MS Society, and she was invited to lead sculpture workshops for children of parents with MS. With a service dog-in-training at her side, she helped the children create their own trash-to-treasure pieces from old toys, pipe cleaners, stickers and other objects.

“I love to inspire kids,” says Cindy. “And I find that bringing a dog helps to break the ice. When they meet a service dog-in-training, they forget about my handicap.”

Cindy’s most frightening experience occurred during the fall of 2004 when she was hospitalized for 42 days with immobilizing back pain. During her hospital stay she received regular visits from her four-legged friends. A year later, she walks unassisted, works out on her treadmill, and does water aerobics.

“I truly believe that the unconditional love of the dogs helped me to recover. They give me a purpose in life,” says Cindy. “I tell people with MS: Never give up. And spend lots of time with kids and dogs!”

Betaseron Champions of Courage

Funded by a grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., co-developer of Betaseron and a leader in the field of multiple sclerosis therapy, the Betaseron Champions of Courage program recognizes the accomplishments of people with MS and provides grants to support programs that will empower the MS community and provide tools to help better manage the disease. Since its introduction in 1999, the Betaseron Champions of Courage program has awarded more than 40 grants to individuals with MS for initiatives ranging from awareness efforts and artistic endeavors to cross-country journeys.

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. For more information or to receive an application, visit www.championsofcourage.org or call 202/363-3378. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed twice per year. The next review takes place in March 2006.

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. Though no cure yet exists, there are now therapies available that can impact underlying disease course as well as manage symptoms. MS affects more than a third of a million people in the U.S. alone, with someone being newly diagnosed virtually each hour.

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Contact:

Liz Garman Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM Telephone: 202/363-3378 E-Mail: info@championsofcourage.org

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