05 April 2007 - Indy Racing Season Drives New Support for Marco Andretti and Team Hemophilia
Program races to raise money and awareness for hemophilia A
NEW YORK, NY (April 4, 2007) —The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) today introduced the new 2007 Team HemophiliaSM, a fundraising program funded by Bayer HealthCare, in partnership with Andretti Green Racing, to benefit NHF and its participating local chapters. Team Hemophilia, now in its second season, will leverage the popularity of the Indy Racing League (IRL), the Indianapolis 500® Mile Race, and 2006 IRL Rookie of the Year to raise money and awareness of bleeding and clotting disorders, like hemophilia A.
The National Hemophilia Foundation is excited to continue working with Marco Andretti who has done more in the last year than just earn his title as IRL Rookie of the Year. Throughout the 2006 season, Andretti also made an impact off the track, visiting with hemophilia community members in cities where IRL races occurred. In addition, Andretti participated in the hemophilia community’s recent annual meeting in Philadelphia, where he presented a $10,000 donation on behalf of his family.
“I am proud to be a part of Team Hemophilia with the National Hemophilia Foundation and Bayer HealthCare,” said Marco Andretti, driver of the #26 car for Andretti Green Racing. “Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, are very challenging conditions, and I hope that the funds and awareness raised by Team Hemophilia will help improve the lives of people living with them.”
The official program Web site, www.teamhemophilia.org, will host live auctions where participants can bid to win V.I.P. tickets to IRL races or an Indy 500 Fantasy Weekend including airfare, accommodations, and a V.I.P. race day experience for two. As the lead sponsor of Team Hemophilia, Bayer HealthCare is providing campaign assistance as well as ongoing financial support.
“We appreciate Bayer’s generous support of Team Hemophilia and its long-standing support of NHF,” said Alan Kinniburgh, CEO of the National Hemophilia Foundation. “Team Hemophilia is an important
fundraising and awareness initiative. It will capture the spirit and excitement of the Indianapolis 500 while raising awareness of bleeding disorders among the general public.”
Everyone is invited to participate in Team Hemophilia by visiting www.teamhemophilia.org where Team Hemophilia race packages will be auctioned. These packages contain all of the V.I.P. benefits plus round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two. Those who can't make it to the track on race day can show their support by shopping for autographed Team Hemophilia products, sending an E-postcard to a friend, or making a donation to the National Hemophilia Foundation.
“As an industry leader, Bayer HealthCare is committed to improving the lives of people with hemophilia and dedicated to supporting programs that raise awareness,” said Terry Tenbrunsel, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Bayer HealthCare. “We are excited to partner with NHF and Andretti Green Racing to raise awareness of hemophilia, and are committed to supporting programs that educate the public about bleeding disorders.”
Funds raised by Team Hemophilia will help maintain important NHF programs like summer camps for children, peer support groups, medic alert IDs, educational seminars, and other initiatives for people living with hemophilia and bleeding disorders. For more information about Team Hemophilia and to make a contribution, visit www.TeamHemophilia.org.
Contact:
John Indence
National Hemophilia Foundation
Tel: 212-328-3763, Fax: 212-328-3777
E-mail: jindence@hemophilia.org
Staci Gouveia, Bayer HealthCare
Tel.: 203.812.6152
E-mail: staci.gouveia.b@bayer.com
Al Larsen
Andretti Green Racing
Tel.: 317-872-2700 ext. 239
Email: alan.larsen@andrettigreenracing.com
About Hemophilia
Approximately 400,000 people around the world have hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. The disease is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII or IX. The most common form of the disease is hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia, in which the clotting factor VIII is either deficient or defective. Hemophilia B is characterized by deficient or defective factor IX.
About the National Hemophilia Foundation
The National Hemophilia Foundation is dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for bleeding and clotting disorders and to preventing the complications of these disorders through education, advocacy and research.
About Bayer HealthCare LLC
Bayer HealthCare LLC, an affiliate of Bayer HealthCare AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The Pharmaceuticals division comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, Specialized Therapeutics, Hematology/Cardiology, Primary Care, and Oncology. 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.
About Andretti Green Racing, Inc.
Andretti Green Racing, which won the 2004 and 2005 IndyCar Series championships and the 2005 Indianapolis 500, has won 27 Indy Racing League events in four seasons, including 23 in the IndyCar Series and four in the Indy Pro Series.
In addition to its new ALMS effort in 2007, the team will field four full-time entries in the IndyCar Series and is anticipating a two-car team again in the Indy Pro Series. The team currently has three IndyCar drivers under contract, which include 2006 rookie of the year Marco Andretti, 2004 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan and 2005 rookie of the year Danica Patrick.
Andretti Green Promotions -- a joint venture between Andretti Green Racing and Team Green Investments -- is the promotional side of the company, and owns and operates the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which will see its third running on April 1, 2007, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
