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January
25,
2009 -- 5:30pm EST
Medtronic Seeks Runners -- Stents Included
 Medtronic
(NYSE: MDT) recently announced that
it is looking for runners from around the world who have benefited
from medical technology to participate in the company's 4th Annual
Medtronic Global Heroes program. The photo to the left is of Alberto
Salazar,
a world-renown marathon champion. He is Medtronic's honorary captain
for the program. Salazar is 50 and in 2007 collapsed from sudden
cardiac arrest. He was revived
via
CPR
and
had an
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to treat arrhythmia.
He continues to train runners and had three participating in last
summer's Olympics in Beijing. He is "committed to spreading the
word about running and living safely with a chronic health condition."
I am always amazed at the number of people who
continue their athletic activities after having a device implanted
(most could outrun me with no difficulty -- but that's another story...).
Our Forum Topic, "Exercise,
Sport, Physical Activity After Stent",
has the stories of scores of stent and heart patients who continue
to run, ride horses, etc. (By the way, I confirmed with Medtronic
that patients who have coronary stents are eligible
for the competition -- as long as there is no concurrent untreated
coronary disease. Individuals with abdominal aortic stent grafts
are not eligible.)
More from Medtronic's press
release:
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.
Up to 25 runners will be selected to receive
a paid entry for themselves and a guest to the Medtronic
Twin Cities Marathon or the Medtronic TC 10 Mile and a travel
package
that includes airfare for the Global Hero and guest to the
Twin Cities. The 28th Annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
weekend will take place Oct. 2-4, 2009. The deadline for applications
is March 31, 2009.
In addition to providing race entries and
travel expenses, the Medtronic Foundation will donate $1,000
to a select non-profit patient organization
that educates and supports people who live with the Global
Hero’s medical condition. To qualify as a Global Hero, runners
must currently be using a medical device therapy to treat the
following disease categories: heart disease, diabetes, chronic
pain, spinal disorders, or neurological, gastroenterology and
urological disorders. Eligible medical devices include any
pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD),
any spinal device, any neurological device, any insulin pump,
or any heart valve. All runners with eligible medical devices
are welcome to apply with no restriction on manufacturer. |
To apply or recommend someone to be a 2009 Medtronic
Global Hero, visit
medtronic.com/globalheroes. Good
luck!
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