2009 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon "Global Heroes” Celebrate Accomplishment

Twenty-three Medtronic Global Heroes, long-distance runners who benefit from medical technology, successfully completed either the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or the Medtronic TC 10 Mile on Sunday, Oct. 4.

These extraordinary runners hail from the United States and eight other countries, including Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Global Heroes is a cooperative effort between the Medtronic Foundation and Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. that celebrates the accomplishments of runners who have medical devices to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders, and whose continued passion for running serves as an inspiration to others. The Medtronic Foundation launched the program in 2006.

"By embracing the challenge of running a marathon or ten-mile race, these exceptional individuals motivate others to take action in their own lives,” states Stephen Oesterle, MD, senior vice president for medicine and technology at Medtronic. "It’s a vibrant example of how medical technology is helping people live full, active lives.”

2009 Global Hero award winners and finishers include: (Visit www.medtronic.com/globalheroes to read their individual stories.)

Marathon Participants
Carol Foote, Dunedin, New Zealand
Foote has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat arrhythmia.

Robb Greenawald, Green Bay, Wisc.
Greenawald has an ICD to treat arrhythmia.

Bethany Hueholt Leavens, Charlottesville, Va.
Hueholt Leavens has a shunt to treat hydrocephalus.

Christopher Kamrath, Chippewa Falls, Wisc.
Kamrath has an ICD to treat arrhythmia.

Deby Kumasaka, Edmonds, Wash.
Kumasaka has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Norman Lee, Edgewater, Md.
Lee has a spinal cord stimulator to manage pain.

Leslie Minnix-Wolfe, Herndon, Va.
Minnix-Wolfe has a pacemaker to treat arrhythmia.

Shuji Noguchi, Kitakyushu, Japan
Noguchi has a pacemaker to treat arrhythmia.

Pierluigi Pagani, Cavernago, Italy
Pagani has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

Scott Sneller, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Sneller has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

Ulrike Thurm, Berlin, Germany
Thurm has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

Ten Mile Participants
Elizabeth Berry, Tucson, Ariz.
Berry has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.

Adam Burrack, Buena Vista, Wisc.
Burrack has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

Kayrat Disinbayev, Moscow, Russia
Disinbayev has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Gary Foskuhl, Dayton, Ohio
Foskuhl has an insulin pump to treat diabetes and an anti-seizure implant.

Beth Greenaway, Saltash, United Kingdom
Greenaway has an aortic valve replacement to facilitate blood flow to the heart.

Fernando Herrera Atienza, La Rinconada (Sevilla), Spain
Herrera Atienza has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

Brian Hicks, Pike Road, Ala.
Hicks has a spinal column stimulator to manage pain.

Dennis Houghton, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Houghton has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

Daniel Jongeling, Rapid City, S.D.
Jongeling has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Christine Kelley, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Kelley has a pacemaker to treat an arrhythmia.

John O’Malley, Apex, N.C.
O’Malley has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Kelly Robinson, Seattle, Wash.
Robinson has an ICD to treat an arrhythmia.

Jill Tsuchitori, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tsuchitori has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

Debbie Zelez, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Zelez has an insulin pump to treat diabetes.

In addition to providing each Global Hero with an entry into the marathon or 10-mile race and a travel allowance, the Medtronic Foundation will donate $1,000 to a non-profit patient organization that educates and supports people who live with the runner's condition.

For more information on how to apply or nominate someone to be a Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Global Hero, visit www.medtronic.com/globalheroes. All runners with medical devices are welcome to apply with no restrictions on manufacturer. Applicants must certify that they have obtained physician approval to participate in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or Medtronic TC 10 Mile race. Global Heroes are chosen by a committee of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

These patient stories capture individual successful experiences and individual results may vary. Implantable devices are not for everyone, and all devices described on this site carry risks. You should consult with your physician about any questions or concerns you have related to your own health, and also about the risks and benefits associated with medical device therapy to know whether medical device therapy might be an option for you.

About Global Heroes
A cooperative effort between the Medtronic Foundation and Twin Cities Marathon, Inc., Global Heroes is a first-of-its-kind program that brings runners from around the world with medical devices to Minnesota to run in Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon events. Global Heroes benefit from medical device therapies that treat chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders. All runners with medical devices are welcome to apply; complete information is available at www.medtronic.com/globalheroes.

About Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
Known as the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America™, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is a three-day weekend celebration of fitness that includes the Medtronic TC Family Events and TC 5K, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, and the marathon. Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is the non-profit organization that directs high-quality running events as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit www.mtcmarathon.org for more information.

About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. The Medtronic Foundation is committed to improving the health of people and communities. Its grant making is focused in three areas: health, education and community