SAN DIEGO, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Diego Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has selected Daniel Bradbury, President and Chief Operating Officer of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, to lead the charge as the corporate chair of this year’s Walk to Cure Diabetes. With the goal of raising $780,000 for research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications, the Walk is expected to achieve a turnout of more than 4,000 walkers, representing local corporations, families, schools, and other organizations. The event will take place on Sunday, October 15, 2006 at the UCSD School of Medicine Lawn from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
“At Amylin, we have devoted our hearts and minds to helping those with diabetes lead better lives through our innovative medicines, and we are excited to bring this passion to the Walk to Cure Diabetes,” said Daniel Bradbury, President and Chief Operating Officer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “It’s a privilege to be selected by the JDRF to support this important goal in this year’s Walk. By working together, we can make a difference.”
In his position as corporate chair of the Walk, Mr. Bradbury will speak at a team captain kick-off luncheon at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines on August 9, 2006. The luncheon will serve as an important opportunity for Walk team leaders to learn more about the JDRF and the mission and activities planned for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. Other events leading up to the Walk include the JDRF San Diego Research Symposium to be held at Amylin’s headquarters on August 3, 2006, which will provide important updates on diabetes research, and a family team kick-off party during a San Diego Padres baseball game on August 19. More information on these and other San Diego JDRF activities can be found at www.jdrf-sandiego-news.org.
Local JDRF Walk Sponsors include: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., QUALCOMM, Inc, Cooley Godward LLP, Roche Diagnostics, Profil Institute for Clinical Research, Cubic Corp, San Diego National Bank, Golden Eagle Insurance Corp, North Island Credit Union, Dowling & Yahnke, Kilroy Services, LLC, and CONNECT.
“We are immensely appreciative of Dan Bradbury and Amylin’s participation,” said Carrie Wood, San Diego Chapter President of the JDRF. “This is corporate citizenship at its best and their commitment to this Walk and our cause enables us to accelerate research to find a cure for diabetes. Insulin is life support, not a cure, and research is the only answer for the 3 million Americans suffering from type 1 diabetes and its complications.”
JDRF Walks are held in more than 200 cities worldwide. Nationally, nearly 500,000 people walked to cure diabetes last year. Collectively, the JDRF Walks raised over $80 million in 2005, and are expected to raise $86 million this year for diabetes research.
Speaking as the National Chair of JDRF’s Walk to Cure Diabetes, Actor Kevin Kline said, “Those of us who are blessed with good health must do all we can to help support the research community in their search for a cure for juvenile diabetes,” said Kevin Kline. “The daily regimen of finger pricks and injections of insulin, combined with the constant dread of complications, are burdens that no child should have to suffer with.” Mr. Kline has been celebrity advocate for JDRF for the past four years.
JDRF’s Walk to Cure Diabetes national Corporate Partners are: Advance Auto Parts, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Discover Financial Services, Ford Motor Company, Marshalls, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., UBS, and Walgreens. Unite to Cure Diabetes partners are: BD, Delta Air Lines, and Medtronic MiniMed.
About The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
JDRF, the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes -- a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1 billion in direct funding to diabetes research. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. JDRF’s mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. For more information, visit the JDRF web site at www.jdrf-sandiego-news.org or call 858-597-0240.
Contact: Vicky Berryman, Media Chair, 858-245-7968; vberryman@andersondirectmarketing.com Linda Riley, Executive Director, 858-597-0240; lriley@jdrf.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
CONTACT: Vicky Berryman, Media Chair, +1-858-245-7968,vberryman@andersondirectmarketing.com, or Linda Riley, Executive Director,+1-858-597-0240; lriley@jdrf.org, both for Juvenile Diabetes ResearchFoundation
