AROUND ALONE SAILOR JOHN DENNIS INSPIRES ASCENSIA DREAM FUND

Bayer’s Ascensia Brand Sponsors First Skipper with Diabetes in Historic Round-the-World Solo Sailing Race

Photo: Billy Black

NEWPORT, R.I. AUGUST 29, 2002 – Around Alone Skipper John Dennis has inspired his sponsor Bayer to create an annual giving fund for people with diabetes. The “Your Life. Your Dream.” - The Ascensia Dream Fund will help people achieve a significant dream that would not be possible without control of their diabetes through self-monitoring. Dennis, a 57-year old commercial real estate manager from Toronto, is making history as the first skipper with diabetes to compete in a global solo sailing race. His boat is named Ascensia, after the new brand name for Bayer’s monitors and services that help people with diabetes self-manage their condition.

“My wife Penny has had diabetes for several years, so when I developed symptoms I consulted my physician immediately and was devastated to learn that I too had diabetes,” says Dennis. “But I eventually realized that as long as I consistently monitored my blood sugar levels and followed my doctor’s instructions, I did not have to limit my life. In fact, monitoring so empowered me that I felt I could do anything I set my mind to. As skipper of the ‘Ascensia’ yacht, I hope that my story will inspire others to live their life, not their diabetes. I am certainly thankful that Bayer is sponsoring my lifelong dream, but I am also grateful for their diabetes management products that made it possible for me to even consider this race.”

Around Alone is a 28,000 mile single-handed around the world yacht race held every four years since 1982. Spanning the world’s most remote and dangerous oceans, it is the longest race for any individual in any sport. The Around Alone fleet will leave Newport, RI on September 12th, on a Prologue race to New York. Around Alone will start in New York harbor on Sunday, September 15th, as part of the “Sail For America” tribute to the city. The race will then stop in Torbay (England), Cape Town (South Africa), Tauranga (New Zealand), Salvador (Brazil) and finish in Newport, Rhode Island in April 2003.

“John Dennis personifies the meaning and essence of Ascensia, which is to ascend and achieve,” said

Photo: Billy Black

Nancy Dean, Vice President of Marketing for Bayer Diagnostics Worldwide. “John’s persistence in keeping his diabetes under control through diligent self-management and fighting to achieve his lifelong dream is an inspiration to us all. The Ascensia motto is Your Life. Your Way, and we are pleased to be able to help John and others live their lives their way.”

“Your Life. Your Dream.” - The Ascensia Dream Fund has been established to provide support and recognition to people with diabetes who want to excel. It began with John Dennis approaching Bayer to request sponsorship in the Around Alone race, and the satisfaction of helping John inspired the Ascensia team to create a Fund to help other people with diabetes achieve a dream. The Ascensia Dream Fund will accept applications from people in participating countries for whom self-monitoring is the cornerstone of their diabetes management. Initially the Fund will be open to residents of the United States. Details on entry and eligibility will be made available in conjunction with John’s around-the-world sail. When he completes his race next year, John will serve as a board member for the Fund.