CVS/pharmacy Launches 'ALS Stars' Campaign to Benefit Research into Cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease
June 15 2004 - 10:47AM
PR Newswire (US)
CVS/pharmacy Launches 'ALS Stars' Campaign to Benefit Research into
Cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease 2004 campaign at CVS to build on last
year's $1.7 million contribution in the fight against amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease WOONSOCKET,
R.I., June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CVS/pharmacy (NYSE: CVS)
and the ALS Therapy Alliance have launched the 2004 "ALS Stars"
campaign to benefit Lou Gehrig's Disease research at Massachusetts
General Hospital's Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease in
Boston, MA. With a $1 donation between now and June 26th,
CVS/pharmacy customers nationwide can purchase an ALS "Star" to be
displayed at their local CVS/pharmacy. Customers can also
personalize their ALS Star with their name or the name of a friend
or loved one. As a result of the 2003 ALS Stars campaign, CVS
customers and employees donated $1.7 million to fund research at
the Institute, and 100% of this year's donations will go towards
continuing this important work. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is
the degeneration of the motor neurons of the central nervous
system. Although it does not impact intelligence or memory, ALS
leads to progressive paralysis of the limbs, the diaphragm and the
muscles needed for eating and speaking. The disease is ultimately
fatal. "The 'ALS Stars' campaign was created because this
devastating disease profoundly impacts our community," said Jon
Roberts, Senior Vice President of Store Operations at CVS/pharmacy.
"As a healthcare company, we wanted to provide the opportunity for
our customers to help support research that will lead to new
treatments for ALS. The work being done at Mass General is truly
exceptional, and we are proud to contribute to this cause." This
MGH-led initiative is a collaborative with the ALS Therapy
Alliance, which includes researchers from Harvard University,
Harvard Medical School, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham &
Women's Hospital and the University of Massachusetts. About CVS
With over 40 years of dynamic growth in the retail pharmacy
industry, CVS is committed to being the easiest pharmacy retailer
for customers to use. With 4,191 stores in 32 states and the
District of Columbia, CVS has created innovative approaches to
serve the healthcare needs of all its customers through its online
pharmacy, CVS.com, and its pharmacy benefit management and
specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare Management Services.
General information about CVS is available through the Investor
Relations portion of the Company's website, at
http://investor.cvs.com/. On April 5, 2004, CVS announced it had
entered into a definitive agreement under which it will acquire
approximately 1,260 Eckerd drug stores, located mainly in the
southern United States, in addition to Eckerd Health Services,
which includes Eckerd's mail order and pharmacy benefit management
businesses. The transaction is expected to be completed in July
2004. DATASOURCE: CVS/pharmacy CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis of
CVS/pharmacy, +1-401-770-2645 Web site: http://www.cvs.com/
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