PPD, Inc. announced the 2011 PPD Heroes team, featuring cancer survivors and medical specialists competing as triathletes in the PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon on October 29th. The PPD Heroes are helping raise public awareness about the value of participating in clinical trials in the development of life-changing medicines.
For people facing illness, participating in a clinical trial can offer new opportunities for cutting-edge treatment and close medical supervision. Increasing the number of patients who participate in clinical trials can help accelerate research into new medical treatments.
"We are proud to sponsor this premier triathlon, and we are pleased to introduce the 2011 team of PPD Heroes," said Ray Hill, CEO of PPD. "We look forward to welcoming them to Wilmington, home of PPD's global headquarters, and cheering them on during race day. They are an inspiration to us all."
The 2011 team of PPD Heroes includes:
Kristen Adelman, a four-time non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor who participated in a clinical trial that she says saved her life. "The care I received was the absolute best," she said, "and the team of doctors and nurses was incredible."
Claudio Battaglini, Ph.D., a professor conducting research on the effects of exercise training in mitigating side effects of anti-cancer treatments. "Without clinical trials," he said, "it is virtually impossible to test new interventions to improve the quality of our lives."
Wendy Chioji, who was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer and participated in a clinical trial in part to help reduce the suffering of others in the future. "Before I even knew if I would get better," she said, "participating in a clinical trial was a way for me to pay it forward."
Roseann Dougherty, who at age 10 lost her mother to brain cancer and went on to become an oncology nurse and start a nonprofit organization to provide healing resources for cancer patients. "Clinical trials can provide hope and new treatments," she said.
Mary Kreis, Ph.D., who learned she was pregnant and had melanoma during a cross-country bike ride. Through a clinical trial, she underwent surgeries during her pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Viva to symbolize living life to the fullest. "Without clinical trials," Kreis said, "my cancer may have been missed."
Each PPD Hero faced incredible struggles, held onto hope and persevered against the odds. Watch the journey of these incredible athletes, share in their sacrifice and take inspiration from their dedication and triumph. CLICK HERE to experience the video and learn more about the PPD Heroes.
The PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon has been ranked one of the top five triathlons in the world by Triathlete magazine. Approximately 1,875 triathletes from 43 U.S. states and five other nations are converging in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, N.C., for the event. It is expected to generate approximately $3.9 million in local economic impact. Funds raised from the event will benefit the Wilmington Family YMCA. For more information, www.beach2battleship.com
The iron distance triathlon includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, and the event also offers a half-triathlon course. The race starts in Wrightsville Beach, winds through New Hanover, Pender, Sampson and Bladen counties and ends at the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in downtown Wilmington.
PPD is a leading global contract research organization providing drug discovery, development and lifecycle management services. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 44 countries and more than 11,000 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a commitment to quality to help clients and partners accelerate the delivery of safe and effective therapeutics and maximize the returns on their R&D investments. For more information, visit www.ppdi.com.
