DUBLIN, November 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
- Fifteen everyday heroes who selflessly care for others in
the face of adversity honored by Shire in annual international
awards program
They inspire with their determination, selflessness, courage and
hope. Fifteen caregivers from around the world have been
announced today as Recipients or Distinguished Honorees in the
2nd Annual Shire BRAVE Awards, an international program
that honors the bravery and devotion of non-professional
caregivers. Launched by Shire in 2011, the BRAVE Awards are the
first and only initiative of its kind and are designed to celebrate
the amazing commitment of unsung everyday heroes - caregivers - who
provide consistent and dedicated care for others.
"Our BRAVE Award winners represent the invisible army of
millions of family caregivers, many of whom balance a job,
household tasks and the intense medical needs of another person,
and in many case, several people," said Angus Russell, Shire Chief Executive Officer.
"Their consistent care of others is an enormously generous way to
live their life, and we at Shire are privileged to recognize these
individuals who bravely overcome unimaginable obstacles and work
tirelessly to give their loved ones as normal and healthy a life as
possible."
Shire received more than 550 nominations for the 2012 BRAVE
Awards from 10 countries over the 15 week nomination period. The
nominations were reviewed and ranked by the BRAVE Awards Selection
Committee, including select Shire employees from around the world
and two external and independent experts in the area of caregiving.
The experts who supported the selection process for 2012 were
Frank Goodwin, Secretary of
EuroCarers, the European association that works on behalf of unpaid
caregivers; and Gary Barg, Founder
and Editor in Chief of Today's Caregiver and
author of The Fearless Caregiver.
"The BRAVE Awards is a unique international program that not
only recognizes these specific carers but which also importantly
raises awareness of the role non-professional caregivers play in
our society everyday," said Mr. Goodwin.
Nominations were ranked based on the qualities that define
Shire's own BRAVE culture: respect, courage, dedication, impact and
patience. Shire's 5,200 global employees helped to select the
Recipients and Distinguished Honorees from the pool of eligible
finalists. The ten Recipients of a 2012 BRAVE Award each will
receive $10,000 USD or the local
currency equivalent, and the five Distinguished Honorees will each
be awarded $2,500 USD or the local
currency equivalent.
"Providing resources and support for caregivers is a constant
focus for those of us who serve these dedicated healthcare heroes.
This unique awards initiative recognizes and celebrates family
caregivers who fearlessly advocate for the wellbeing of their loved
ones, often drawing strength and spirit from the very people for
whom they care," said Mr. Barg.
To read more about and hear from each of the 2012 BRAVE Awards
Recipients and Distinguished Honorees, visit
http://www.ShireBRAVEAwards.com
2012 BRAVE AWARDS RECIPIENTS:
Brian Burke
(Santa
Rosa, CA): Thanks to Brian's
love, support and care, his wife Kate, who was diagnosed with a
stage IV brain tumor, breast cancer and suffered a severe stroke,
has beaten the odds, living well beyond her prognosis and providing
hope for countless cancer and stroke survivors.
Carmen Carrasco Lobato
(Malaga, Spain): Carmen a mother of five,
has dedicated more than 43 years of her life to care for her three
sons and recently, a family friend, all of who were born with
serious development disabilities. She goes well above and
beyond the role of mother and friend.
Patsy Fleckenstein
(Baltimore, MD):
For nearly two decades, Patsy has served as the inspiring matriarch
of her family, caring full-time for her two grown children (and
their four kids) after separate car accidents left them both
paralyzed from the neck down.
Debra Frain
(Cheektowaga, NY): Thanks to
Debra's tireless devotion and refusal to give up, her 21-year-old
son Matt, who suffers from a rare neuromuscular disease and is
confined to a wheelchair, is halfway through college, having lived
well past the 12 months that doctors originally forecasted.
Randall Gregory (Beverly, MA): After Randall's wife Nicole
suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed from the neck down just
one year into their marriage, he has provided constant emotional,
physical and financial support for the woman he calls his wife and
best friend, striving daily to give Nicole as normal a life as
possible.
Carol Harmer (Wagga
Wagga, Australia): Carol is a
full-time mother and full-time caregiver for her three children,
two of whom have Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) and are fully
dependent for basic needs. She also finds time to be an
advocate, helping raise awareness about children with special
needs.
Raul Navarro (Corona, CA): Raul has served as his wife
Mary's 24/7 caregiver for nearly 25 years despite his own battle
with cancer, trading in his well-paying job to help her through two
bouts of thyroid cancer, seizures and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS).
Mary Pizzurro
(Tampa, FL): Mary
has spent the past 21 years caring for her four children, two of
whom suffer from giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), a disease with no
cure that causes Michael and Joseph to use power wheelchairs,
feeding tubes and tracheotomies. She is also pursuing a
nursing degree, inspiring her two daughters to follow in her
footsteps.
Chelsea Scheiber
(Rio Oso, CA): By
refocusing her career and relocating to care for her younger
brother and best friend Travis, who has Becker Muscular Dystrophy
(BMD), Chelsea is the very definition of a selfless sister.
Otis Williams
(Jackson, MS): A family hero,
Otis works evenings so he can take care of his family full-time
when they're awake. His wife Michelle and two of their three
children have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a form of muscular
dystrophy.
2012 BRAVE AWARDS DISTINGUISHED HONOREES:
William Dent
(Oakland, CA):
Around-the-clock, 70-year-old Bill selflessly cares for his son
Darren, who has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and relies on a
feeding tube and ventilator, all the while striving to put a smile
on Darren's face each day, as he knows laughter can be the best
medicine.
Mark Jubinville
(Chicopee, MA):
For 30 years, Mark has selflessly fought for his wife Lori after
she had a stroke during pregnancy and three subsequent strokes that
left her paralyzed on her left side. He also researched a
potential solution to prevent future strokes, all the while raising
their son.
Catherine O'Hare
(Birmingham, AL): Catherine's
extraordinary level of passion, humility and commitment to her
18-year-old daughter Amelia, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular
atrophy (SMA) as a one-year-old, has allowed Amelia to live a rich
and fulfilling life, even though she cannot stand or walk.
Daniel Steckman
(Holyoke, CO): A
great father and loving husband, Dan is the primary caregiver for
his son Jeremy, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, and serves as
the household leader, as his wife received a heart transplant and
has health restrictions.
Mary Sweeney
(Willis, TX): Mary's husband
Bill, who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and
cannot walk or speak, has learned to use an eye-gaze computer to
communicate and does more than many able-bodied men thanks to her
endless care, love and encouragement over the past 15 years.
The Shire BRAVE Awards are presented in the spirit of Shire's
BRAVE culture, which fosters an environment that encourages its
employees and partners to act with integrity; create innovative
solutions that make a difference; act on the needs of others;
strive to be better every day; and to exemplify trust and openness
through teamwork. Nominations for the 2013 Shire BRAVE Awards are
expected to be open on or about March 15,
2013.
Notes to editors
About the Shire BRAVE Awards
The Shire BRAVE Awards is an international program created by
Shire to honor the courage and dedication of individual caregivers.
For the Shire Brave Awards, a caregiver is defined as an individual
who is providing regular, consistent care for another person(s).
The caregiver cannot be a professional healthcare provider and
cannot be compensated in any formal way through their efforts as a
caregiver. The caregiver can be a relative, neighbor, or
friend who gives their time, support, and compassion regularly,
helping another person(s) who is (partly or wholly) unable to care
for themselves due to health issues, injury, or other extenuating
circumstance. For further information on the Shire BRAVE Awards,
including official rules, legal disclosures, and privacy policy
please visit http://www.ShireBRAVEAwards.com.
SHIRE PLC
Shire enables people with
life-altering conditions to lead better lives.
Through our deep understanding of patients' needs, we develop
and provide healthcare in the areas of:
- Behavioral Health and Gastro Intestinal conditions
- Rare Diseases
- Regenerative Medicine
as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialist
physicians.
We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating
value for patients, physicians, policymakers, payors and our
shareholders.
For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's
website: http://www.shire.com.
For further information please contact:
Matthew Cabrey (mcabrey@shire.com),
+1-484-595-8248
Beverly Volpe (bvolpe@simonpr.com),
+1-215-545-4715 x24
Jessica Mann (jmann@shire.com),
+44-1256-894-280
SOURCE Shire plc