Medtronic Announces 2007 ''Global Heroes''

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• 2007-07-27 07:07:57
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Distance Runners from Around the World Who Benefit from Medical Technology To Run this Fall in Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Events

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twenty-four long-distance runners who benefit from medical technology were selected as 2007 Global Heroes today by the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. The honorees, which include a former Mrs. America, a former mayor of St. Paul, Minn., and twin sisters who each have an ICD, hail from the United States, South Africa, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands. Each Global Hero will run the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or Medtronic TC 10 Mile on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007.

Global Heroes is a unique program 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. Medtronic launched the program in 2006.

“We’re proud to double the size of last year’s inaugural field of Global Heroes,” said Stephen Oesterle, Medtronic senior vice president of medicine and technology. “Through their individual achievements we witness firsthand how people worldwide are able to pursue personal goals and lead fuller, more active lives assisted by medical technology.”

In addition to providing race entry and travel expenses, the Medtronic Foundation will donate $1,000 to a non-profit patient organization that educates and supports people who live with the Global Hero’s condition.

The 2007 Medtronic Global Heroes are:

Marathon Participants

Kimberly Carbaugh, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Carbaugh has a pacemaker to treat a congenital heart defect and arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm. (In an arrhythmia the heartbeats may be too slow, too rapid, too irregular, or too early.)

Bob Durband, Shoreview, Minn.

Durband has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.

Jeffrey King, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

King, a Type 1 diabetic, has an insulin pump.

Leslie Lam, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Lam, a former Mrs. America (2000), has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Jill Martin, Gig Harbor, Wash.

Martin received an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

Erin McGann, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

McGann has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Thomas Price, Clay, N.Y.

Price has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.

Theo Pustjens, Geleen, Limburg, The Netherlands

Pustjens has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Julie Robbins, London, Ontario Canada

Robbins, a Type 1 diabetic, has an insulin pump.

Scott Wiebold, Cartersville, Ga.

Weibold, a Type 1 diabetic, has an insulin pump.

Ten Mile Participants

Patricia Arribas, Madrid, Spain

Arribas has neurostimulation therapy for urinary incontinence.

Kristin Cunnien, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Cunnien has deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy for essential tremor, a movement disorder.

Almarika de Jong, Denneoord, George, South Africa

de Jong has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Jim Goodridge, Chicago, Ill.

Goodridge has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Jesse Hennes, Fargo, N.D.

Hennes, a Type 1 diabetic, has an insulin pump.

Sarah Molloy, Boston, Mass.

Molloy has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia and will run with her twin sister, Beth Molloy Wells, another 2007 Global Hero.

Kirk Pfrangle, Alpharetta, Ga.

Pfrangle has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Sheila Pidde, Stillwater, Minn.

Pidde, a Type 1 diabetic, has an insulin pump.

Alan Rider, Reston, W.Va.

Rider has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

James Scheibel, St. Paul, Minn.

Scheibel has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Mark Siwik, Broadview Heights, Ohio

Siwik, who was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.

Courtney Sprissler, Raleigh, N.C.

Sprissler has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

James Todd, Port Hayward, Va.

Todd has a spinal disc to treat back pain and muscle spasms.

Beth Molloy Wells, Washington, D.C.

Wells has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia and will run with her twin sister, Sarah Molloy, another 2007 Global Hero.

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

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.