Meet the 2011 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon "Global Heroes"

Global hero

Extraordinary Runners from Around the World Complete Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Events with Help from Medical Technology
 

Twenty-five Medtronic Global Heroes, long-distance runners who benefit from medical technology, successfully completed either the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or the Medtronic TC 10 Mile on Sunday, October 2, 2011

These extraordinary runners hail from 10 different countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Global Heroes is a cooperative effort between the Medtronic Foundation and Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. that celebrates the accomplishments of runners who have medical devices to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders, and whose continued passion for running serves as an inspiration to others. The Medtronic Foundation launched the program in 2006.

Additional information about the Medtronic Global Heroes program and Global Hero individual stories can be found at www.medtronic.com/globalheroes.

Visit the Medtronic Global Heroes Facebook page.

2011 Global Hero award winners and finishers include:

Marathon Participants

  • Jonas Alpsten, Karlstad, Sweden, has an insulin pump to manage diabetes.
  • Julio Cesar Batista Lucas, Franca, Brazil, has an insulin pump to manage diabetes.
  • Russell Bestley, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, has a pacemaker to treat a sinus node block.
  • Lindsey Burch, Mission, Kansas, has an insulin pump to manage diabetes.
  • William Clotfelter, Depew, New York, has a pacemaker to treat an arrythmia.
  • Carolina Dimsdale, Durham, North Carolina, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat long QT syndrome.
  • Kathleen Hammett, Hollywood, Maryland, has a neurostimulator for bladder control.
  • Roger Hanney, Petersham, Australia, an insulin pump to manage diabetes.
  • Erica Minner, Lebanon, Ohio, has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.
  • Brian Nash, Cincinnati, Ohio, has a heart valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.
  • Kate Nguyen, Virginia Beach, Virginia, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat long QT syndrome.
  • Ania Ritter, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Ten Mile Participants

  • Emily Bredehoft, San Jose, California, has a neurostimulator to help treat chronic pain from a neurological condition.
  • John Dunn, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat an arrhythmia.
  • Lindsay Gossack, Seattle, Washington, has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
  • David Hoffman, Wayne, Pennsylvania, has a heart valve replacement to help facilitate blood to the heart.
  • Terje Husøy, Heidal, Norway, has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.
  • Haim Leibovich, Udim, Israel, has a stent to prevent blockage of the arteries to the heart.
  • Julie Manning, Austin, Texas, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat an arrhythmia.
  • Michael Nall, Mentor, Ohio, has a stent to prevent blockage of the arteries to the heart.
  • Heidi Owen, Stewartville, Minnesota, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat long QT syndrome.
  • Francisco Agustin Palma Sanchez, Sevilla, Spain, has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
  • Gary Pauley, Parker, South Dakota, has a neurostimulator to help manage Parkinson's Disease.
  • Francesca Polese, Milano, Italy, has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.
  • Ron Rubin, Clayton, Missouri, has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat an arrhythmia.