'Iron Andy' Holder to Compete in Upcoming Ironman Florida
VALLEY FORGE, Pa., May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orlando-area Diabetes
Shoppes have teamed up with Ironman "Iron Andy" Holder to inspire and motivate
local children and families who are living with diabetes.
As part of the "Managing Diabetes: Living Without Limits" campaign, Iron
Andy is participating in athletic events around the country and speaking about
having diabetes as an Ironman competitor and the importance of working with a
healthcare team, including a pharmacist, to properly manage the disease.
"It is important for those with diabetes to manage their disease by
working with a healthcare team in order to lower risk of complications," says
Donny Reed, pharmacy owner of Tru Valu Drugs, which offers Diabetes Shoppe, in
Sanford, Fla. "Andy is a great role model for the approximately one million
people living with diabetes in Florida to remind them that disease management
is not only important to staying healthy and active, but is key to reaching
lifestyle goals."
While in Orlando to compete in the Ironman Florida, Iron Andy will meet
with local children with diabetes and their families from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on
Saturday, May 19 as part of the Tru Valu Drugs Health Fair, located at 503
East First Street, Sanford. The health fair will offer free glucose and blood
pressure screenings and activities for children. All proceeds from the fair's
refreshments will be donated to the local Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation. Joining Iron Andy will be a Diabetes Shoppe pharmacist who will
answer questions about managing diabetes, one of the fastest growing diseases
in the country. There are 49 Diabetes Shoppes in Florida and 1,100 nationwide
offering education, products, and daily support for people with diabetes.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or Juvenile Diabetes in 2005 at age 36,
Andy was determined not to let the disease hold him back. An athlete all his
life, he decided to take control of his diabetes and become an Ironman
triathlete to inspire his two sons and show children with diabetes nationwide
that they too can live without the limits of diabetes. As an Ironman, Andy
must swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles. He
completed his first Ironman in July 2006. Andy's endocrinologist, Certified
Diabetes Educator (CDE) and Diabetes Shoppe pharmacist help him safely manage
his disease during extreme training and competition.
For more information on the "Managing Diabetes: Living Without Limits"
campaign or Diabetes Shoppe, visit http://www.diabetes-shoppe.com. Campaign
information is also available at local Diabetes Shoppes.
About Diabetes Shoppe
The Diabetes Shoppe, a program offered by AmerisourceBergen is located
within select independent pharmacies and offers diabetes patients quality
products, individualized service and convenient access to trained diabetes
professionals. There are currently 1,110 Diabetes Shoppes across the United
States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, found primarily in participating
Good Neighbor Pharmacies. To locate a pharmacy with a Diabetes Shoppe, visit
http://www.diabetes-shoppe.com.
About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen (NYSE: ABC) is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical
services companies serving the United States, Canada and selected global
markets. Servicing both pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers
in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Company provides drug distribution
and related services designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.
AmerisourceBergen's service solutions range from pharmacy automation and
pharmaceutical packaging to pharmacy services for skilled nursing and assisted
living facilities, reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, and
physician education. With more than $61 billion in annualized revenue,
AmerisourceBergen is headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and employs more than
13,000 people. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #27 on the Fortune 500 list. For
more information, go to http://www.amerisourcebergen.com.
SOURCE Diabetes Shoppe; AmerisourceBergen
CONTACT:
Claire Galligan of AmerisourceBergen
+1-610-727-2441
cgalligan@amerisourcebergen.com
or
Audra Jacobs of Bader Rutter & Associates
+1-262-938-5462
ajacobs@bader-rutter.com