Parkinson's Disease Caregivers Recognized During National Caregiver Week
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals and The National Parkinson Foundation
Establish National Caregiver Award
MIAMI, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- To recognize the contributions of
outstanding Parkinson's disease caregivers across the United States,
SmithKline Beecham (SB) and the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) have
established the first annual SmithKline Beecham Caring Hands Award. This
award will be presented annually on both a local and national level to
individuals whose dedication has resulted in an improved quality of life for
people affected by the disease. Each year, local recipients of this
distinguished award will be announced during National Family Caregivers Week.
The 1997 National Caregiver Week was November 23-29, however local award
ceremonies will continue to take place through the month of December.
The SmithKline Beecham Caring Hands Award program will be implemented
locally through NPF's Centers of Excellence located at major medical
universities across the United States. Based on nominations from their
Parkinson's disease community, each NPF Center will select one caregiver for
local recognition. Local winners from across the United States will be
considered for national recognition in the SmithKline Beecham Caring Hands
Award finals. A national steering committee consisting of representatives
from the National Parkinson Foundation and SmithKline Beecham will choose five
of these outstanding caregivers as national winners to be recognized with
their patients at NPF's Annual International Gala For Hope in Miami, FL,
courtesy of SmithKline Beecham.
"Improving the quality of life for Parkinson's patients is one of the
missions of the National Parkinson Foundation, and caregivers play such a key
role in the lives of our patients," stated Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, Executive
Director, NPF. "The SmithKline Beecham Caring Hands Award is a wonderful way
to honor those special individuals who give so unselfishly of themselves to
better the life of another."
More than 25 million Americans care for a friend or family member
suffering from a debilitating illness such as Parkinson's disease. Quality of
life is so important when it comes to debilitating diseases, and caregivers
for a great part determine the quality of life a person with Parkinson's
disease will live. NPF and SB recognize this vital role and are pleased to
have the opportunity to work together in establishing the SmithKline Beecham
Caring Hands Award.
"SmithKline Beecham is dedicated to improving Parkinson's disease
patients' overall quality of life through the development of new drugs and
programs that extend treatment beyond the use of medication," said Peter
Letendre, Pharm.D., Requip(TM) senior product manager, SmithKline Beecham.
"Caregivers play a crucial role in the day-to-day management of Parkinson's
disease patients' lives, and we are pleased to partner with NPF to recognize
these special peoples' efforts."
The 1997 SmithKline Beecham Caring Hands Award local winners will be
recognized at award ceremonies which will take place at NPF Centers of
Excellence and support groups through the month of December. The 1997
national award winners will be announced in February '98 at NPF's Annual Gala
for Hope in Miami, Fl. For more information on the local winner in your area,
please call Melinda Brown at 305-243-2235.
The SmithKline Beecham Caring Hands Award is one of several initiatives
which comprises SB C.A.R.E.S. (Control, Assistance, Resources, Education,
Support), a series of programs sponsored by SmithKline Beecham
Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Requip(TM) for people living with
Parkinson's disease and their families. For company information, visit
SmithKline Beecham on the world wide web at http://www.sb.com .
SmithKline Beecham (NYSE: SBH) -- one of the world's leading healthcare
companies -- discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals,
vaccines, over-the-counter medicines and health-related consumer products, and
provides healthcare services including clinical laboratory testing, disease
management and pharmaceutical benefit management.
The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is one of the largest research
institutes, with 50 research centers around the world. NPF's mission is to:
find the cause and cure for Parkinson's disease and allied neurological
disorders through research; to educate general medical practitioners to detect
the early warning signs of Parkinson's disease; to educate patients, their
caregivers and the general public; to provide diagnostic and therapeutic
services; to improve the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.
The Foundation supports researchers, physicians, occupation, physical and
speech therapists and psychological counseling through it Centers of
Excellence world-wide, and houses a world class Brain Endowment Bank in the
Foundation's international headquarters in Miami, FL. For more information on
the National Parkinson Foundation call: 800-327-4545 or visit NPF on the
world wide web at http://www.parkinson.org .
SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation
CONTACT: Melinda Brown, National Parkinson Foundation,
800-327-4545 or 305-243-2233; or Lisa Grossman, Cohn & Wolfe,
212-598-3694
