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Kelly "Girl" Sutton Uses Multiple Sclerosis
Diagnosis to Motivate Others
ATLANTA (Oct. 29, 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, 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
their disease. She accomplishes this, in part, by sharing her personal
story and experiences in most cities she visits.
"There are more than 8,500 people affected by MS in the state of
Georgia, and almost half of all eligible 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 1.5-mile
Atlanta Motor Speedway to that list of accomplishments Oct. 29.
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
05270360/051031
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