Distance Runners from Around the World Who Benefit from Medical Technology Selected to Run in Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Events
MINNEAPOLIS – June 2, 2009 – Twenty-five long-distance runners who benefit from medical technology were announced today as 2009 Global Heroes by the Medtronic Foundation and Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. The honorees hail from the United States, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and Russia. Each Global Hero will run the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or Medtronic TC 10 Mile on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2009.
The Medtronic Global Heroes program celebrates the accomplishments of runners who have medical devices to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain, or neurological disorders. In spite of their chronic health conditions, those selected have continued their passion for running and serve as an inspiration to others. Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) established the Global Heroes program in 2006 as part of its sponsorship of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.
“Once again, we are inspired by this year’s remarkable class of runners and the global diversity of the honorees who now become part of our Global Heroes family,” said Stephen Oesterle, M.D., senior vice president of medicine and technology at Medtronic. “We look forward to bringing our 2009 Global Heroes to the Twin Cities this fall to demonstrate to the world how medical technology allows people to pursue personal goals and lead fuller, more active lives.”
In addition to providing race entry and travel expenses, the Medtronic Foundation will donate $1,000 on behalf of each runner to a non-profit patient organization that educates and supports people who live with the Global Hero’s condition.
The 2009 Medtronic Global Heroes are:
Marathon Participants
Carol Foote, Dunedin, New Zealand
Foote has an ICD to treat arrhythmia.
Robb Greenawald, Green Bay, Wisc.
Greenawald has an ICD to treat arrhythmia.
Beth Greenaway, Saltash, United Kingdom
Greenaway has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.
Bethany Hueholt, Charlottesville, Va.
Hueholt has a neuro shunt to treat hydrocephalus.
Christopher Kamrath, Chippewa Falls, Wisc.
Kamrath has an ICD to treat arrhythmia.
Deby Kumasaka, Edmonds, Wash.
Kumasaka has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.
Norman Lee, Edgewater, Md.
Lee has a spinal cord stimulator to alleviate pain.
Leslie Minnix-Wolfe, Herndon, Va.
Minnix-Wolfe has a pacemaker to treat arrhythmia.
Shuui Noguchi, Kita-Kyushuu, Japan
Noguchi has a pacemaker to treat arrhythmia.
Pierluigi Pagani, Cavernago, Italy
Pagani has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Scott Sneller, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sneller has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Ulrike Thurm, Berlin, Germany
Thurm has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Ten Mile Participants
Elizabeth Berry, Tucson, Ariz.
Berry has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.
Adam Burrack, Buena Vista, Wisc.
Burrack has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Kayrat Disinbaev, Moscow, Russia
Disinbayev has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.
Gary Foskuhl, Dayton, Ohio
Foskuhl has an insulin pump to treat diabetes and an anti-seizure implant.
Fernando Herrera Atienza, La Rinconada (Sevilla), Spain
Herrera Atienza has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Larry Hicks, Pike Road, Ala.
Hicks has a spinal column stimulator to alleviate pain.
Dennis Houghton, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Houghton has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.
Daniel Jongeling, Rapid City, S.D.
Jongeling has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.
Christine Kelley, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Kelley has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.
John O’Malley, Apex, N.C.
O’Malley has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.
Kelly Robinson, Seattle, Wash.
Robinson has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.
Jill Tsuchitori, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tsuchitori has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Debbie Zelez, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Zelez has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
Additional information about the Medtronic Global Heroes program can be found at www.medtronic.com/globalheroes.
About Global Heroes
Global Heroes is a first-of-its-kind program that brings runners from around the world with medical devices to Minnesota to run in Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon events. Global Heroes benefit from medical device therapies that treat chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders. All runners with medical devices are welcome to apply; complete information is available at www.medtronic.com/globalheroes.
About Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
Known as the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America™, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is a three-day weekend celebration of fitness that includes the Medtronic TC Family Events and TC 5K, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, and the marathon. Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is the non-profit organization that directs race weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit www.mtcmarathon.org for more information.
About Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. The Medtronic Foundation is committed to improving the health of people and communities. Its grant making is focused in three areas: health, education and community.
