May 19 2008 - Hemophilia Awareness and Fundraising Program Accelerates with Launch of 2008 Campaign
The National Hemophilia Foundation Teams with IndyCar Driver Marco Andretti and NFL Player Chris Hovan to Drive Support for Team Hemophiliasm
NEW YORK, NY (May 19, 2008) — The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) shifts into high gear today with the launch of Team Hemophilia on Tour, a fundraising and awareness program sponsored by Bayer HealthCare and supported by Andretti Green Racing. This program combines the excitement of the IndyCar Racing Series with educational community events across the country.
Now in its third season, Team Hemophilia hits the road with members of NHF’s National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI), a program created to foster the development of next-generation leaders and help NHF chapters across the country build strong youth programs. These youth leaders (ages 18-25) will follow Marco Andretti from race to race where they will host at-track tailgate events for members of the bleeding and clotting disorders community.
"Team Hemophilia is a great program that I am proud to participate in," said Marco Andretti, #26 driver for Andretti Green Racing. "This year's program is especially exciting because it is focused on the development of young leaders and its message that anything is possible when you're dedicated. I hope my team's hard work on the track helps serve as an example of dedication and teamwork to the young leaders in the program and the hemophilia community."
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In addition to the at-track events, the NYLI participants will lead youth leadership programs for local NHF chapters and hemophilia treatment centers along the tour route. Team Hemophilia on Tour participants will blog about their experiences at www.teamhemophilia.org, allowing supporters to track the Team’s progress.
“This year’s program provides a great opportunity to teach other young people in our community the importance of leadership and get them involved, while also raising needed funds for the NYLI program and NHF,” said Josh Lunior, NYLI member from New York. “I am excited to be a part of Team Hemophilia on Tour. It should be a lot of fun.”
In addition to support from the Andretti Green Racing team, Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive tackle Chris Hovan is setting aside time to endorse Team Hemophilia on Tour. Hovan is personally connected to the bleeding and clotting disorders community and an active member of the The Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida, NHF’s local chapter.. Throughout the year, Hovan will participate in media interviews and public service announcements, attend track activities with community members, and help NHF earn sponsor support.
Team Hemophilia on Tour will be making stops at the following locations:
- 1. Indianapolis 500 - May 25 in Indianapolis, Ind.
- 2. Bombardier Learjet 550K – June 7 in Dallas, Texas
- 3. Watkins Glen International – July 6 in Watkins Glen, N.Y.
- 4. Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County – Aug. 24 in Sonoma, Calif.
- 5. Detroit Grand Prix – Aug 31 in Detroit, Mich.
- 6. Indy Pro Series Race – Sept. 7 in Chicago, Ill.
Since its launch in 2006, Team Hemophilia has been committed to raising funds for the National Hemophilia Foundation and its local chapters. To find out more about this exciting program and read the Team Hemophilia on Tour blog, visit www.teamhemophilia.org.
Contact:
Jordan Black
216-408-9373
jordan.black@global-prairie.com
John Indence
212-328-3763
jindence@hemophilia.org
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About Hemophilia
Approximately 400,000 people around the world have hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. The disease is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII or IX. The most common form of the disease is hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia, in which the clotting factor VIII is either deficient or defective. Hemophilia B is characterized by deficient or defective factor IX.
About the National Hemophilia Foundation
The National Hemophilia Foundation is dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for bleeding and clotting disorders and to preventing the complications of these disorders through education, advocacy and research.
About Andretti Green Racing
Founded in December 2002, Andretti Green Racing® (AGR) is based in Indianapolis, Ind., and is owned and operated by partners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. The winningest team in Indy Racing League history, Andretti Green Racing fields a series-high four full-time entries in the IndyCar Series, two Firestone Indy Lights cars and a single-car entry in the American Le Mans Series. Andretti Green also features a promotional side to its business, owning and operating the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which saw its fourth successful running in April 2008 on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Fla.
About Bayer HealthCare LLC
Bayer HealthCare LLC is an affiliate of Bayer HealthCare AG, one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. In the United States, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, which includes Cardiology and Primary Care and Specialty Medicine, which includes Hematology, Oncology and Multiple Sclerosis. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.
