Posted: January 9, 2007

Health and Fitness: Don't Let Asthma Stop You in Your Tracks!

Marathon challenge launched for Ontarians living with asthma Mississauga, ON, Jan. 9 - On your mark, get set, go! AstraZeneca Canada, in partnership with the Ontario Lung Association, is launching an innovative educational and interactive Asthma Marathon Challenge to demonstrate that asthma is not a barrier to living an active lifestyle. In conjunction with the marathon challenge, AstraZeneca is also sponsoring two up-and-coming Canadian triathlon athletes who, despite living with respiratory dysfunction, have their sights on becoming Olympic champions at the 2008 Olympic Games. Led by a former Olympic triathlon coach, the Asthma Marathon Challenge will support and monitor a team of people living with asthma from across Ontario. Twelve people will be selected to train and participate in a 5 or 10K run at The Mississauga Marathon presented by Canon in May, leading up to the ultimate goal of completing a full marathon at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September. "The goal of the marathon challenge is to raise awareness about asthma as a manageable condition," says Chris Haromy, Respiratory Therapist, and an Asthma Educator with the Ontario Lung Association Asthma Action Program. "This unique and exciting initiative will demonstrate that asthma - especially asthma that is well controlled with a self-management plan - need not be a barrier to achieving one's personal or physical goals." The Asthma Marathon Challenge Open to Ontario adults living with asthma, teams will be formed in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Hamilton and London. Applicants do not require marathon or running experience, but simply the desire to dedicate the time required to train for a marathon, and prove that asthma does not have to limit a person. Marathon hopefuls will be trained by a team of experts including former Olympic triathlon coach, Barrie Shepley, and monitored by local healthcare professionals. "As a professional trainer and former Olympic triathlon coach, I take asthma and other respiratory dysfunctions very seriously," says Barrie Shepley. "Typically, athletes with asthma are at a disadvantage compared to competitors that do not live with this condition. In order to overcome this disadvantage, athletes and their coaches should strive to learn as much as possible about asthma in order to adapt the best training strategies and help these athletes compete on a level playing field." While only a few participants will ultimately be selected for the Asthma Marathon Challenge, everyone is encouraged to join the virtual team! A self-managed marathon training program, designed by triathlon coach Barrie Shepley, will be posted to the Ontario Lung Association Web site at www.on.lung.ca. This is a great way for those not selected, or those not living near a centre where teams are being formed, to take on the Asthma Marathon Challenge and demonstrate that asthma need not restrict physical activities. To learn more about the marathon challenge or how to participate, please visit www.on.lung.ca. Deadline for applications is February 2, 2007 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Athlete Sponsorship AstraZeneca is also proud to announce the three-year sponsorship of two up-and-coming Canadian triathlon athletes, André-Paul Baillargeon-Smith and Sean Bechtel, as they train for the Beijing 2008 and 2012 London Olympic Games. Both André-Paul and Sean have been living with respiratory dysfunction since childhood, yet have proven themselves to be two of the best triathletes in Canada. "The sponsorship initiative is an integral part of AstraZeneca's vision to contribute to Canadians' health and quality of life through education and health promotion," says Kazi Borkowski, VP Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca Canada. "Through this sponsorship, AstraZeneca strives to support André-Paul and Sean as they pursue and fulfill their athletic goals. And, we believe, the Asthma Marathon Challenge will contribute to Canadians' understanding of respiratory health and the importance of gaining and maintaining asthma control." The Ontario Lung Association The Lung Association is among Canada's oldest voluntary, not-for-profit health-promotion organizations. The Lung Association is concerned with the prevention and control of asthma, chronic lung disease caused by smoking and with air quality and its effect on lung health. The Ontario Lung Association was incorporated in 1945, and has community offices across the province. Visit the Ontario Lung Association on-line at www.on.lung.ca. About Astrazeneca AstraZeneca is a leading global pharmaceutical company with an extensive product portfolio spanning six major therapeutic areas: gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, infection, neuroscience, oncology, and respiratory. AstraZeneca's Canadian headquarters and packaging facilities are located in Mississauga, Ontario, and its state-of-the-art drug discovery centre is based in Montréal, Quebec. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.astrazeneca.c. Individuals selected to participate in the Asthma Marathon Challenge will be announced in March 2007. The 2007 Mississauga Marathon presented by Canon takes place May 12 - 13 and the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon takes place on September 30. Comment on this story. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest

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