SALT LAKE CITY CYCLIST NAMED WINNER OF BAYER BAYER
DREAM FUND CONTEST
Diabetes won't deter Peter Hoogenboom from 10,000-mile Bike Tour Across the USSALT LAKE CITY (March 18, 2006) - Peter Hoogenboom, a 46 year-old athlete with diabetes has been named winner of the Bayer Bayer Dream Fund which recognizes exceptional people living with diabetes. Thanks to the Dream Fund, Hoogenboom will embark on a bicycle tour across the United States telling his story along the way and spreading awareness of diabetes. The Dream Fund is sponsored by Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care Division, maker of a wide range of blood glucose monitors used by persons with diabetes to manage their disease.
Hoogenboom will embark on his "Dream Tour" from Salt Lake City cycling about 10,000 miles across the country over an estimated 155 days of riding time over eight months. Hoogenboom's tour route was chosen to take him to all 48 states in the contiguous United States. The tour is scheduled to end back in Salt Lake City in late October 2006.
"Taking on an athletic challenge of this magnitude shouldn't be the exception for people with diabetes," said Hoogenboom, an avid cyclist, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14. "As I make my way across the country, I would like to convey to as many people as possible that with proper self-management, you can do almost anything."
Throughout the tour, Hoogenboom will keep a daily web log and share photos, video, and text recording the challenges of diabetes during strenuous activity. To view the web log and see the route map, and learn more about the Bayer Bayer Dream Fund contest, log on to www.AscensiaDreamFund.com or call the toll-free number 800-255-8769 (press 1, press 7666#).
Training, along with proper diabetes management, will allow Hoogenboom to complete the rigorous cycling tour. "As a young adult, I tried to fight my diabetes but soon realized this wasn't working," he noted. "So I learned to live well, dedicating myself to regular exercise and frequent self-monitoring. Over time, this strategy has become part of my life and my personality." Hoogenboom has already completed multiple cycling challenges, including a solo, self-directed, 2,300-mile tour from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis in 45 days in 1988. In order to dedicate his time to the "Dream Tour," he will take a leave-of-absence from his job. In addition, Hoogenboom's wife Pat will join him on the tour in a support vehicle.
"Peter Hoogenboom's dedication to keeping his diabetes under control through diligent self-management, while maintaining an active lifestyle is truly inspirational," said Nancy Katz, Head of Sales and Marketing, North America Region, Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care Division. "Bayer is proud to sponsor him as the 2005 winner of the Bayer Dream Fund contest. We encourage people across the country to follow his journey and to welcome him as he passes through their community."
The Bayer Bayer Dream Fund®
The Bayer Bayer Dream Fund contest was created to help people achieve a significant dream that would not be possible without control of their diabetes through self-monitoring. The contest was inspired by John Dennis, who in 2002, became the first person with diabetes to qualify for and participate in "Around Alone," a single-handed global yacht race. The Dream Fund has also helped one winner create a challenge-based SCUBA camp for teens and another publish a one-of-a-kind book on parenting with diabetes. For more information, go to www.ascensiadreamfund.com or call the toll-free number 800-255-8769 (press 1, press 7666#).
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care Division
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care Division is one of the largest self-test diagnostic businesses in the world, supporting customers in 100 countries. Since the introduction of Clinitest® 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 strips. Bayer HealthCare further innovated diabetes self-management by being the first company to introduce a suite of blood glucose monitors that do not require coding. The Ascensia® BREEZE® and Ascensia® CONTOUR® systems offer people with diabetes unparalleled choice in blood glucose monitoring meters.
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care Division sponsors the Dream Fund® contest which is open to people with diabetes 18 and older offering them the chance to win up to $100,000 to achieve their dream - whatever it may be.
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care Division's global headquarters is located in Tarrytown, New York and operates as part of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the worldwide Bayer HealthCare group.
Bayer HealthCare AG
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. Bayer HealthCare generated sales amounting to some 9.4 billion euros and employed 33.800 people worldwide in 2005.
The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The new Pharmaceuticals division was established on January 1, 2006, and comprises the former Biological Products and Pharmaceutical divisions. Pharmaceuticals now have three business units: Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology and Primary Care.
Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.
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