TARRYTOWN, N.Y., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care today announced Jenna Scarsi as the newest winner of the Bayer Dream Fund, the company’s annual contest for people with diabetes who want to achieve a special dream that might not have been possible unless they were in control of their diabetes. Through this award, Scarsi, age 30, will be able to tour the country with a grassroots program she created called Lights, Camera, Cure to increase diabetes awareness and education and to empower young people with diabetes.
Scarsi herself was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, commonly known as juvenile diabetes, when she was 11. Through her work as a certified diabetes educator, Scarsi developed the idea for Lights, Camera, Cure, a family movie event and fundraiser that provides diabetes education and helps to empower young people with diabetes.
Lights, Camera, Cure
Lights, Camera, Cure began as a single event in November 2004 in Jenna’s hometown of Arlington Heights, IL. Jenna is now able to realize her dream of reaching more people with diabetes by taking Lights, Camera, Cure on the road. She will apply the $100,000 Bayer Dream Fund award to conduct Lights, Camera, Cure events at venues in five cities this year. Each event kicks off with an interactive diabetes health fair and concludes with a screening of a family movie. Jenna will donate all proceeds from funds raised through Lights, Camera, Cure events to local diabetes organizations in each city to help provide funding for diabetes research.
“Ever since I was first diagnosed with diabetes I’ve been actively involved in the diabetes community and I participated in a number of different types of fundraisers,” says Scarsi. “Based on my own experience with diabetes and through my work as a diabetes educator, I saw the opportunity to create a different kind of fundraising event that would involve children and young adults with diabetes, as well as their families and friends. Since I am an avid movie fan as well, I brought together movies, diabetes education and fundraising through Lights, Camera, Cure, a family movie event that everyone can enjoy.”
The first Lights, Camera, Cure event that Jenna will conduct, with the help of the Bayer Dream Fund, will take place on April 28, 2007, in Indianapolis, IN, with events to follow in Nashville, Portland, Philadelphia and San Antonio. For more information on specific dates and venues in each city, visit http://www.bayerdreamfund.com.
Enter the 2007 Bayer Dream Fund(TM) Contest
Bayer is now accepting applications for the 2007 Bayer Dream Fund. Bayer will support the efforts of one or more individuals who self-manage with a Bayer blood glucose monitor so well that their disease is only a minor aspect of who they are -- allowing them to achieve truly extraordinary personal goals. The Bayer Dream Fund winner will serve as an inspiration to millions of others living with diabetes. People with diabetes in the U.S. who are 18 and older can review eligibility criteria and obtain an application for the contest by visiting http://www.bayerdreamfund.com.
About The Bayer Dream Fund(TM)
Now in its fourth year, the inspiration for the Bayer Dream Fund came from John Dennis, who approached Bayer to fund his dream, who was to be the first and only person with diabetes to successfully compete in the historic Around Alone global yacht race. Bayer believed that helping Dennis achieve his dream would help to inspire others with diabetes. Through this experience, Bayer saw an opportunity to recognize people with diabetes who have inspirational dreams. Bayer established the Dream Fund to recognize these truly inspirational people to help them accomplish their extraordinary goals.
Previous winners include: * Peter Hoogenboom raised awareness of diabetes management by completing a 10,000-mile bicycle tour of the 48 contiguous United States. * Kassie Palmer authored a book titled, “When You’re a Parent With Diabetes: A Real Life Guide to Staying Healthy While Raising a Family.” * Colleen McCarthy LaPierre created a challenge-based adventure camp for teens with diabetes called “Dream Big.”
Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care
Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care is a worldwide leader in diabetes, supporting customers in 100 countries. Since the introduction of CLINITEST(R) reagent tablets in 1941, Bayer has led the way in diabetes care product innovation. The company changed the face of diabetes care in 1969 when it introduced the first portable blood glucose meter and test strips.
Bayer HealthCare further innovated diabetes management by being the first company to introduce a suite of blood glucose monitors with No Coding(TM) technology. The BREEZE(R) and CONTOUR(R) blood glucose monitoring systems offer people with diabetes an unparalleled choice in diabetes management systems. The Arthritis Foundation in the United States and the Arthritis Society of Canada each granted Ease-of Use Commendation to the BREEZE meter, representing the first time a blood glucose meter has been recognized as easy to use for arthritis sufferers.
In July 2006, Bayer Diabetes Care acquired Metrika Inc., maker and manufacturer of A1CNow+(R), a meter-based diabetes monitoring system for measurement of HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) an important indicator of long term blood sugar control.
Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care global headquarters is located in Tarrytown, New York, in the United States and operates as part of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the worldwide Bayer HealthCare group.
Bayer HealthCare
Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Bayer Diabetes Care
CONTACT: Media Contacts: Staci Gouveia, Bayer HealthCare, +1-203-812-6152,staci.gouveia.b@bayer.com; or Caren Begun, Manning Selvage & Lee,+1-212-468-3278, caren.begun@mslpr.com
Web site: http://www.bayerdreamfund.com/
