Thomson Reuters ONE via COMTEX) --25 Distance Runners from Around the World Who Benefit from Medical Technology

to Run Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Events this Fall

MINNEAPOLIS - July 24, 2013 - Twenty-five long-distance runners who benefit from medical technology have been named to the 2013 "Medtronic Global Heroes" team, and will run the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or TC 10 Mile on Sunday, October 6, 2013.

This year's team includes runners from 12 different countries including Australia, China, Ireland, Israel, Germany, Macedonia, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and the United States.

Each runner has a medical device to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders. The Medtronic Global Heroes program, launched in 2006, celebrates their accomplishments and passion for running, which serves as an inspiration to others living with chronic diseases.

Global Heroes participants are selected by Twin Cities In Motion, the non-profit organization that directs the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. In addition to providing race entry and travel expenses, Medtronic will donate $1,000 in honor of each runner to a non-profit patient organization that educates and supports people with chronic health conditions.

Additional information about the Medtronic Global Heroes program can be found at www.medtronic.com/globalheroes.

Visit the Medtronic Global Heroes Facebook page.

The 2013 Medtronic Global Heroes are:

Marathon Participants

Adriane Devereux, Dallas, Texas

Devereux has an implanted spinal cord stimulator to help manage chronic pain.

Sally Feinerman, Auckland, New Zealand

Feinerman has a pacemaker to treat an atrioventricular heart block.

Adam Fitzgerald, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Fitzgerald has a shunt to treat hydrocephalus.

Tom Grossman, Midland, Michigan

Grossman has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Peter Johnson, Baltimore, Maryland

Johnson has a pacemaker to treat Sick Sinus Syndrome.

Sandra Kemper, Weseke, Germany

Kemper has a pacemaker to treat atrioventricular heart block.

Kostadin Martinov, Novo Selo, Macedonia

Martinov has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Maureen McCool, Farmington, Maine

McCool has a shunt to treat a complication from a brain aneurysm.

Siobhan Monaghan, Enniskillen, Ireland

Monaghan has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Johan Sileson, Ytterby, Sweden

Sileson has an implantable neurostimulator to manage chronic pain.

Greg Goebel, Sarasota, Florida

Goebel has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat sudden cardiac arrest.

Ana Luisa Amado Vaz, Evora, Portugal

Vaz has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Ten Mile Participants

Paul Arcangeli, Vienna, Virginia

Arcangeli has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to manage sudden cardiac arrest.

Sara Costas Varela, Montevideo, Uruguay

Varela has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Gerard DeGannes, Maraval, Trinidad and Tobago

DeGannes has a pacemaker to manage irregular heart rate.

Noa Rinzler Diwan, Ness Ziona, Israel

Diwan uses spinal and bone therapies to manage Spinal Stenosis C3-C7.

Katherine Hernandez, Bradenton, Florida

Hernandez has a pacemaker to treat a heart block and a valve replacement to treat aortic stenosis.

Nagesh Kuppuraju, Robbinsville, New Jersey

Kippuroju had a heart valve replacement to facilitate blood flow.

Karen Lordan, Sydney, Australia

Lordan receives sacral nerve stimulation to treat bowel incontinence and chronic pain.

James McGurl, Cataumet, Massachusetts

McGurl has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Crystal Pitney, Fairbanks, Alaska

Pitney has spinal and bone fusion to aid recovery of a broken back.

Marla Sewall, Dallas, Texas

Sewall has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat sudden cardiac arrest.

Lin Shen, Zhengzhou City, China

Shen has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Yao Hui Wang, Wuhan City, China

Wang has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Warren Williams, Sydney, Australia

Williams has a pacemaker to treat atrial fibrillation

About Global Heroes

A cooperative effort between Twin Cities In Motion and Medtronic Philanthropy, the Global Heroes program recognizes runners from around the world who have a medical device to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain and spinal and neurological disorders. There is no application restriction on manufacturer.

About Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

Known as the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America(TM), the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is a three-day weekend celebration of fitness that includes the Medtronic TC Family Events, TC 5K, TC 10K, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, and the marathon. Twin Cities In Motion is the non-profit organization that directs race weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit www.TCMevents.org for more information.

About Medtronic Philanthropy

Medtronic Philanthropy focuses on expanding access to quality chronic disease care among underserved populations worldwide, in addition to supporting health initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people worldwide.

-end-

Contacts:

Rich Fischer

Medtronic Philanthropy

+1-763-505-2975

Eliza Chlebeck

Tunheim

+1-952-851-7215

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Source: Medtronic, Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE

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