CHARITY FOR RARE DIETARY ILLNESS WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Added: (Thu Feb 28 2002)

Pressbox (Press Release) - London, 28 February 2002 - A Derby-based charity dedicated to helping people suffering from Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a rare dietary illness whose sufferers often display an obsession with food, will be one of only ten UK charities to be awarded £25,000 at the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) International IMPACT Awards Ceremony held in London on 28 February 2002.

Only 1 in 16,000 are born with the Syndrome and, apart from dietary problems, often have poor muscle tone, learning disabilities, emotional instability, short stature and a lack of normal sexual development.

For parents and carers of babies, the association recently updated its handbook to include articles written by parents with children suffering from PWS, describing how they coped with their child’s development.

Jackie Waters, Deputy Chief Executive of Prader-Willi Syndrome Association, says: “2002 is the 21st anniversary for the Association and we are delighted to be celebrating it with the award behind us. This year we aim to reach even more people with PWS and carers by updating our information resources. The award win will go a long way to ensure we are both effective and creative.”
The International IMPACT Awards, now in their fifth year, are run by GSK in partnership with the King’s Fund, a leading independent health charity. The awards reward small-to medium-sized registered charities with a proven track record in community health care. Nine other UK charities receive £25,000 while ten highly commended projects receive £1000. The scheme is running concurrently with a sister initiative in Philadelphia, USA, which is the US headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline.

Claire Hitchcock, Director, Global Community Partnership, Europe and International, GlaxoSmithKline comments: “We are delighted to support the outstanding work undertaken by these community based UK healthcare charities. The charities have demonstrated that despite the constraints of their size they can make a dramatic difference to those in need within their community.”

Winners’ details:
· Prader-Willi Syndrome Assoc (PWSA), Derby, Narinder Sharma, 01332 365676

Issued by Prowse & Co on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline
For more information please contact:
Vicki Fletcher / Deborah Fields, Prowse & Co, 01372 363386 or e-mail
vicki@prowse.co.uk or deborah@prowse.co.uk

Editor’s notes

The International IMPACT Awards play a significant part in GSK’s Global Community Programme which aims to support the company’s commitment to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

The acronym IMPACT derives from the criteria that winners must have demonstrated: Innovation, Management, Partnership, Achievement, Community Focus and Targeting Need.

In the UK GSK has a continuing programme of charitable activities, which places special emphasis on scientific education and medical research. In addition, GSK seeks to fund initiatives for improving healthcare in the UK and supports a variety of projects in the visual and performing arts, as well as the environment.
As one of the world’s leading research based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, GSK is dedicated to delivering innovative medicines and products that help millions of people around the world live longer, healthier and happier lives.

For company information visit GlaxoSmithKline at www.gsk.com


News release is available online at http://www.prowse.co.uk/newsf.html
Photographs are available on request