NEW YORK, and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., and SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biogen Idec, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and MSWorld announced today a joint program, MS Leaders of Hope, to recognize individuals with MS and their caregivers who have responded to the challenges of the disease in ways that uniquely inspire others. The four-month online program will award a winning applicant in each of six different categories $1,000, along with a trip for two to the Society’s National Conference to be held this year in Denver, Colorado, November 10 - 13, where the winners will be presented with their awards.
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“We are most pleased to be part of this important new initiative,” said Gen. Mike Dugan, President and CEO of the National MS Society. “This program affords people with MS and their caregivers an opportunity to make the point loud and clear that disability and inability are not synonymous. You don’t lose your creativity just because you’re diagnosed with MS. The Society is looking forward to spotlighting these innovative solutions to MS challenges.”
“We look forward to partnering with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on the MS Leaders of Hope awards program,” said James C. Mullen, CEO of Biogen Idec. “Working together, we will create a forum that addresses the challenges that people with MS face on a daily basis and inspire others with MS to live their lives to the fullest.”
Beginning today, those interested in participating in the program can visit the MS Leaders of Hope website at http://www.msleadersofhope.com/ and either nominate themselves or e-mail the nomination to someone else they feel should be a candidate because of his or her creative solution to the following life challenges:
-- Mobility -- Relationship -- Time Management -- Workplace/Employment -- Memory -- Caregiving
The nomination period will end on September 15, 2004. A select panel comprised of people with MS representing Biogen Idec, the National MS Society and MSWorld will select three finalists in each award category. Once the panel has made its selections, all finalists will have their story and creative solution posted at http://www.msleadersofhope.com/, where visitors to the site will be able to vote for the story and solution they find most inspiring within each award category. This online voting process will take place between October 4 and October 26, 2004, with winners to be announced on November 8, 2004. Winners will receive a $1,000 cash prize, and will be the guests of the National MS Society and Biogen Idec at the Society’s National Conference in Denver, Colorado on November 10 where they will be presented with their awards.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that according to the National MS Society, affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States and approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. It is a disease of young adults, mostly women, with onset typically between 20 and 50 years of age. Symptoms of MS may include vision problems, loss of balance, numbness, difficulty walking and paralysis.
About The National MS Society
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, founded in 1946, supports more MS research, offers more services to people with MS, provides more professional education programs, and advances more MS advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world.
About Biogen Idec
Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in oncology and immunology. As a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transforms scientific discoveries into advances in human healthcare. For press releases and additional information about the company, please visit http://www.biogenidec.com/.
For More Information Contact: MEDIA CONTACTS: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Arney Rosenblat Ph: (212) 476-0436 Biogen Idec Amy Brockelman Ph: (617) 914-6524 INVESTOR CONTACT: Biogen Idec Christina Dillon Ph: (617) 679-2812
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031112/LAW121LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840 Biogen Idec
CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACTS, Arney Rosenblat of National Multiple SclerosisSociety, +1-212-476-0436; or Amy Brockelman of Biogen Idec, +1-617-914-6524;or INVESTOR CONTACT, Christina Dillon of Biogen Idec, +1-617-679-2812
Web site: http://www.biogenidec/
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