Noted Author, Speaker, and Publisher, Gary Barg Joins BRAVE Awards Selection Committee

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. and PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary Barg, Editor in Chief of Today's Caregiver, and author of The Fearless Caregiver, has agreed to serve on the Selection Committee for the Shire BRAVE Awards.  The Shire BRAVE Awards (www.ShireBRAVEawards.com) is the first and only international awards program designed to recognize the courage and dedication of non-professional caregivers, honoring everyday heroes who provide regular, consistent care of another person.  

Mr. Barg is the founder of Today's Caregiver, the first national magazine for caregivers, as well as the original online caregiver community, www.caregiver.com.  He hosts The Fearless Caregiver Conferences, which bring together caregivers across the country to share their knowledge and experiences, and is the author of The Fearless Caregiver, a book filled with practical advice, poetry and inspirational stories.  The recipient of several media and writing awards, Mr. Barg also currently sits on the Boards for the American Association for Caregiver Education and the National Adult Day Services Association.  

"As a family caregiver himself, Gary understands the important role played by caregivers in the lives of those they care for," said Angus Russell, Shire's Chief Executive Officer.  "He is a renowned writer, speaker, and publisher, who has successfully connected thousands of caregivers since the launch of his publication nearly two decades ago, and we welcome his expertise as we seek to find the 2011 BRAVE Award winners."

"Caregivers don't usually see themselves as brave or heroic, and they are unaware that their own stories can inspire other caregivers and remind them they are not alone," said Mr. Barg, who hosts annual Fearless Caregiver Conferences across the U.S.  "By honoring everyday people whose care for others transcends the norm, the Shire BRAVE Awards can help change that perception.  I am excited to partner with Shire in their continuing efforts to recognize these truly outstanding individuals."

Nominations for the BRAVE Awards are currently being accepted through the official website at www.ShireBRAVEawards.com until August 31, 2011 and winners will be announced in November 2011.  The Shire BRAVE Awards is the first and only awards initiative of its kind and is designed to recognize the courage and dedication of non-professional caregivers, honoring everyday heroes who provide regular, consistent care of another person.  

A caregiver is defined by the Shire BRAVE Awards as an individual who is providing regular, consistent care for another person.  The caregiver cannot be a professional healthcare provider and cannot be compensated in any formal way through their employment as a caregiver.  There are no restrictions on the type of care being provided, and the care recipient need not be prescribed a Shire medicine or treatment.

Notes to editors

About the Shire BRAVE Awards

The Shire BRAVE Awards is an international program created by Shire to honor the courage and dedication of individual caregivers.  For the Shire Brave Awards, a caregiver is defined as an individual who is providing regular, consistent care for another person(s).  The caregiver cannot be a professional healthcare provider and cannot be compensated in any formal way through their efforts as a caregiver.  The caregiver can be a relative, neighbor, or friend who gives their time, support, and compassion regularly, helping another person(s) who is (partly or wholly) unable to care for themselves due to health issues, injury, or other extenuating circumstance.  Nominations will be accepted between June 15, 2011 and August 31, 2011 and winners will be announced in November 2011.  For further information on the Shire BRAVE Awards, including official rules, legal disclosures, and privacy policy please visit www.ShireBRAVEAwards.com.

SHIRE PLC

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician.  Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions.  Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights.  Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website: www.shire.com.

SOURCE Shire