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Kelly "Girl" Sutton Uses Multiple Sclerosis
Diagnosis to Motivate Others
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 22, 2005) — When Kelly "Girl" Sutton was
just a little girl, her mom asked her what she wanted to do when she grew
up. Her immediate response was to help people, and be a race car driver.
Little did either one of them know the twists or turns that lay ahead
ultimately would help Sutton achieve both goals.
"I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in
1988 when I was only 16 years old," explained Sutton. "Like many people,
I was devastated. But, through prayer and support from family and friends,
I realized my diagnosis didn't have to stand in the way of a racing career.
I wanted to change the face of MS and encourage others with MS to realize
their dreams."
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), Sutton is
one of more than 400,000 Americans currently living with MS, a disease
where women are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed than men.
Sutton's mission is to raise awareness of the treatment options available
to manage the disease. She accomplishes this, in part, by sharing her
personal story and experiences in most cities she visits. Sutton will
sign autographs by her race truck at the Wyndham Hotel in Roanoke at noon
and speak at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23. For more information on this
free event for those affected by MS and to reserve your seat, please call
1-800-887-8100.
"There are more than 3,500 residents living with MS in central Virginia
alone! Almost half of all people living with the disease are not taking
one of the approved therapies. I know people can respond differently,
but my MS has been in remission for more than six years with COPAXONE®
after two other therapies didn't work for me," Sutton said.
The 34-year-old single mom also uses the media exposure gained by her
presence as a driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) to show
her peers in the MS community that it is possible to manage the challenges
of everyday life after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Impacting People's Lives
Kelly Sutton's story resonates far beyond just the racing world, spreading
to the hundreds of thousands living with MS. Whether newly diagnosed,
or living with the disease for many years, men and women of all ages identify
with Sutton's determination to overcome her challenges. Her positive attitude
and determination to "make lemonade from lemons" has kept her focused
on reaching out to the MS community and pursuing her passion for racing.
Sutton's courage and resolve earned her the 2004 Gene Autry Courage Award
from the Tempe Sports Authority and the distinguished 2003 Wilma Rudolph
Courage Award presented by the Women's Sports Foundation.
"No matter where I travel, I meet someone with MS who touches my heart
and makes me feel connected to all the other people who are fighting the
same battle I am," said Sutton. "There is no way to describe the awesome
feeling I get when someone tells me something I did inspired them to take
action in managing their MS. I receive e-mails from people all over the
country who have heard me talk about my MS at an educational program,
read about my story in their morning paper, or watched an interview on
their evening news. Helping others is my dream, and I am living it every
day!"
Racing Against MS
A third-generation driver for Sutton Motorsports, Kelly "Girl" Sutton's
desire to race began as a five-year-old leaning against her dad's race
car and has blossomed into a career in the hard-charging NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series. Despite competing in a typically male-dominated sport, Sutton
has posted nearly a dozen top-25 finishes, a handful of top-20s, and a
top-15 finish in her short time in the series. Sutton currently holds
the record for career earnings and race starts by a female NCTS competitor,
as well as the best starting position or finish by a female NCTS driver
at several tracks on the circuit. She hopes to add the half-mile, paper-clip
shaped Martinsville Speedway to that list of accomplishments Oct. 22.
Sutton says she is living the dream she envisioned so many years ago,
and her accomplishments on and off the track have inspired thousands of
people living with MS to find their own passion. She continues to put
herself in the public eye sharing her personal challenges, and has paved
the way for those with MS, and women, to keep focused on a checkered flag
of their own.
Turning to Science
The FDA has approved drugs for RRMS, such as COPAXONE®
(glatiramer acetate injection). Current data suggest COPAXONE®
is a selective MHC class II modulator. COPAXONE® is indicated
for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in relapsing remitting
multiple sclerosis.
The most common side effects of COPAXONE® are redness,
pain, swelling, itching, or a lump at the site of injection, flushing,
chest pain, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and
muscle stiffness. These reactions are usually mild and seldom require
professional treatment. Patients should tell their doctor about any side
effects.
Some patients report a short-term reaction right after injecting COPAXONE®.
This reaction can involve flushing (feeling of warmth and/or redness),
chest tightness or pain with heart palpitations, anxiety, and trouble
breathing. These symptoms generally appear within minutes of an injection,
last about 15 minutes, and go away by themselves without further problems.
After injecting COPAXONE®, patients should call their doctor
right away if they develop hives, skin rash with irritation, dizziness,
sweating, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe pain at the injection
site or other uncomfortable changes in their general health. Patients
should not give themselves any more injections until their doctor tells
them to begin again.
Teva Neuroscience, Inc. markets COPAXONE®. COPAXONE®
is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Teva
Neuroscience, Inc. is a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
For more information on Kelly Sutton and her racing career, visit her
Web site at www.kellygirlsutton.com,
or for more information on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, visit www.nascar.com/series/truck.
Call 1-800-887-8100 or log onto www.copaxone.com
for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®,
or multiple sclerosis.
See additional important information at
http://www.copaxone.com/pi/index.html or call 1-800-887-8100
for electronic releases. For hard copy releases, please see enclosed full
prescribing information.
Contact:
Jennifer Westphal
Fleishman-Hillard
(816) 512-2241
westphaj@fleishman.com
Keith Daw
Fleishman-Hillard
(816) 512-2285
dawk@fleishman.com
05270359/051030
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