Olympic XC Skier Kris Freeman Shares Story of Perseverance and Triumph at Diabetes Camps Across the U.S.

Lilly Diabetes ambassador will share his experiences with more than 1,000 campers this summer  

INDIANAPOLIS, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fresh off his most successful cross-country ski season, Kris Freeman, an elite endurance sport athlete with type 1 diabetes, kicks off his 7th annual diabetes summer camp tour this week with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly Diabetes). Freeman, diagnosed with diabetes 11 years ago at age 19, will share his story of how he successfully managed his disease to be able to participate in the last 3 Winter Olympics to encourage children with diabetes to pursue their dreams.

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After fighting back from a rare muscle disorder, not related to his diabetes, to compete in the 2010 Olympics, Freeman suffered several setbacks during his races, including a plunge in his blood sugar level that caused him to collapse while racing in the lead pack of a 30 km pursuit.

"That was a disappointment,'' Freeman said, "but after the success I've had this year it's even more important to show children that even though diabetes can sometimes throw you off your game, the key is to keep on going. You never know what can happen.''

To help Freeman share that message this year, he and Lilly Diabetes will launch their annual camp tour on June 6 at Camp Seale Harris in Hoover, AL, and will begin the approximate 8,000-mile trip that will crisscross the country over a 2 month period.

Freeman has worked closely with Lilly Diabetes for the past 7 years, visiting more than 4,000 young people at diabetes summer camps, where kids take part in typical camp activities and, for many, meet others like themselves for the very first time. This year's tour takes Freeman to 9 camps where he'll speak with campers and staff and participate in daily activities.

During his 2011 competition, Freeman won his first 50 km U.S. National Championship, had 3 World Cup top 10 finishes, and was given a "Red Group" designation for finishing the year in the top 30 internationally — his most successful season ever. He achieved this success after carefully training for physical endurance as well as closely tracking his diabetes care, and working with his healthcare provider to determine what changes were needed to accommodate lengthy cross-country races. As a result, he emerged a stronger competitor who was unwilling to give up in the face of past difficulties related to his diabetes.

"The last few years have been tough having had some pretty public setbacks with my diabetes," said Freeman. "But, I've been able to stay positive and maintain my nutrition and overall diabetes management, which has helped me tremendously. I want to show these kids that they can and should keep reaching for their dreams. You don't have to stop living just because you have diabetes."

Lilly Diabetes has a long history of supporting diabetes camps and has donated more than $200,000 to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) camp scholarship program over the last 3 years, including $88,000 this past March. Lilly is also one of the largest providers of insulin, diabetes supplies, and educational materials for U.S. diabetes camps, including more than 73,000 educational kits for children and $15 million in product donations since 2001.

"I can't stress enough how important it is to show our campers it's possible to dream big, reaching for whatever they want in life.  Diabetes doesn't have to diminish those dreams," said Cathy Hartmann, associate director of programs at the ADA's Gloria Hirsch Camp for Children with Diabetes — Camp EDI, St. Louis, MO. "Role models like Kris Freeman, who are willing to share not only their triumphs, but also their personal struggles with diabetes, can have an incredible impact on our campers and how they feel about themselves. Kris was right on target with his advice and the reaction to his visit was one of inspiration and motivation–he was the highlight of our 2010 camp season."

Freeman's 2011 summer diabetes camp tour begins June 6 and runs through July 25. For more information about his work with Lilly, please visit www.lillydiabetes.com. Kris Freeman is a paid spokesperson for Lilly Diabetes. For information about diabetes camps in your area, visit www.diabetes.org/camp.

Camp Schedule

Leg One

Camp Seale Harris, Jacksons Gap, AL – June 6

Camp John Warvel, North Webster, IN – June 8

Camp Until a Cure, Noblesville, IN – June 9

Leg Two

Camp Tanager, Mount Vernon, IA – July 12

Camp STIX, Newport, WA – July 13

Camp Aldersgate, Little Rock, AR – July 14

Camp WannaCure, Richmond, VA – July 15

Leg Three

Camp Joslin, Charlton, MA – July 25

Camp Clara Barton, North Oxford, MA –    July 25

About Lilly Diabetes

For more than 85 years, Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has been a worldwide leader in pioneering industry-leading solutions to support people living with and treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923, and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also committed to providing solutions beyond therapy ― practical tools, education, and support programs to help overcome barriers to success along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journey of each person living with or treating diabetes inspires ours. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company, a leading innovation-driven company, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers ― through medicines and information ― for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

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SOURCE Lilly Diabetes