Eli Lilly and Company and Vision Racing Sponsor Vision Wellness Tour at the IndyCar Series Across the Country
July 24 2008 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Wellness Tour Mobile Unit Offers Free Diabetes Education and
Cholesterol Screenings to Race Spectators INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., July
24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company has teamed up
with Vision Racing and Polymer Technology Systems, Inc. as a
partner in the recently announced Vision Racing Wellness Tour to
provide free diabetes educational information as well as
cholesterol screenings at the IndyCar Series during the 2008 racing
season. Eli Lilly and Company, a worldwide leader in diabetes
treatment, research and education, will provide the diabetes
education component of the Wellness Tour Mobile Unit, including a
free diabetes risk assessment and access to a certified diabetes
educator. Team partner Polymer Technology Systems will provide its
revolutionary CardioChek(R) home cholesterol test system to
complete a cholesterol screening. The goal of the Vision Racing
Wellness Tour is to leverage the popularity of the IndyCar Series
to promote overall health management by providing tools and ongoing
community-based support for those living with, treating or at-risk
for serious health conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol
and heart disease to help improve the health and wellness of
communities across the country. "The number of people with diabetes
in the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate, and, through this
initiative, Lilly can play a role in helping manage its impact on
individuals and our communities," said Rob Brown, vice president
and chief marketing officer, Lilly USA. "Together with Vision
Racing, we're helping to provide education about diabetes, along
with practical, everyday solutions to help people affected by
diabetes live healthier lives." "So many people are living with
high cholesterol but aren't aware of it," said Robert Huffstodt,
president and CEO of Polymer Technology Systems, Inc. "Because of
this, we are excited to join the Vision Racing Wellness Tour to
help provide people with cholesterol screenings so that they can be
informed and if need be, make important lifestyle changes to better
their overall health." Vision Racing team driver, A.J. Foyt IV,
whose grandfather is the legendary driver A.J. Foyt, is also
encouraging fans to be in the driver's seat when it comes to
managing their healthcare by visiting the Wellness Tour Unit. "I'm
honored to represent Lilly and the Vision Racing Wellness team in
this health initiative. This is such a great opportunity to help
change people's lives for the better and educate them on the
importance of managing their overall health," said Foyt. "I have a
family history of diabetes -- on both my mother and father's sides
-- and understand firsthand the importance of taking health issues,
such as diabetes, seriously. I am committed to helping raise
awareness, both on the track and off, about the importance of a
healthy lifestyle." "We are pleased to welcome Lilly to our
Wellness Tour initiative as well as to our race program," Vision
Racing owner Tony George said. "Adding Lilly to our health and
wellness partners, such as Polymer Technology Systems, Inc. and
Kroger, is allowing us to really bring a unique sponsorship from
the race track, to the stands and beyond. Obviously, diabetes is a
serious issue in our society, and we can appreciate the work that
Lilly has done to combat that. By including them in our Wellness
Tour, we join them in the effort to bring awareness of diabetes to
our fan base." For more information about the Vision Racing
Wellness Tour, please visit http://www.visionracing.com/ . For more
information about diabetes, please visit
http://www.lillydiabetes.com/ . About Diabetes Despite significant
treatment advances and a wide variety of patient education and
support programs, the incidence of diabetes and its resulting
medical complications continues to rise rapidly. According to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes affects
nearly 24 million Americans nationwide; of that, nearly one-fourth,
or approximately six million people, are unaware that they have the
disease.(1) About Cholesterol Heart disease is also a serious
threat in the U.S., taking more than 600,000 lives a year.(2) The
CardioChek system, which will be available as part of the Tour
Mobile Unit, consists of a handheld analyzer and test strips which
will allow race spectators to test for total cholesterol, HDL
cholesterol or triglycerides. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a
leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical
products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide
laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific
organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides
answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the
world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about
Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/ . About Vision Racing
Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George as
well as actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based
in Indianapolis, Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team
competes full-time in the 16-race IndyCar Series schedule, and
competed in the Rolex 24-Hour endurance race in Daytona, Florida
for the second time. Entering its fourth season of IndyCar Series
competition, the team is coming off 21 top-ten finishes, three
top-five finishes and a third place finish in 2007. The team
features returning drivers Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV for 2008
as well as the addition of Davey Hamilton for the 92nd running of
the Indianapolis 500. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate
the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports
excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the
Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Racing. http://www.visionracing.com/
About Polymer Technology Systems, Inc. Polymer Technology Systems,
Inc. is a global company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana
with sales offices in Africa, Australia, Europe, Latin America, the
Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The company manufactures and
markets diagnostic products including the CardioChek and CardioChek
PA handheld analyzers. Polymer Technology Systems has developed
test strip kits for home use with the CardioChek Home Cholesterol
Analyzer to measure total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or
triglycerides. The company also offers PTS Panels(R) test strips
for direct LDL Cholesterol, Ketone, Glucose, a Lipid Panel and
other combination test strips for professional use with the
CardioChek PA. CardioChek Systems are CLIA waived, FDA Cleared, and
CE labeled. For more information visit http://www.cardiochek2.com/
. O-LLY References (1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). National diabetes Fact Sheet: General Information and
National Estimates on Diabetes in the United States, 2007. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2007 (2) American Heart Association. Heart
Disease and Stroke Statistics: 2008 Update, American Heart
Association. AmericanHeart.org (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company
CONTACT: Monique Kelley of Manning Selvage & Lee,
+1-609-351-5664, or Pat Caporali of Vision Racing, +1-317-373-9895
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