Foundation to Raise Funds for a Cure (NAPSA)—You might know multi-platinum selling country a benewn singer Clay Walker’s voice from his 11 number-one songs. You could recognize his smile from the covers of the eight million albums he’s sold. But you probably don’t know about his personal battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Like so many others with MS, Walker’s life has been filled with triumphs and frustrations. But, unlike most people, Walker has waged his private battle while leading a public life. This year, he hopes to share more of his story to inspire others about what is possible and, ultimately, play a role in raising money to find a cure for MS. Walker’s diagnosis came when he was 26. He had recently completed his fourth album, his music career was exploding, and his wife had given birth to their first child. The last thing he expected was the tingling, numbness, and facial spasmsthat eventually led him to the diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MSin 1996. “T remember driving home after I was diagnosed and thinking, ‘What’s going to happen to me?” said Walker. “I wanted to still be able to run on the beach with my daughter, ride my horses, and perform for my fans.” Information became Walker’s ally. He quickly learned everything he could about the disease and sought out a neurologist who specialized in MS. Together, they decided drug therapy would behis best option. The Importance of Therapy Walker’s challenge was balancing drug therapy and a life that involved spending three to five days a week traveling and performing. Whenheisn’t working, Walker prefers being outside doing some03231616/0207B3 Riding horses is one of the many activities that Clay Walkerloves. thing active—playing with his kids, gardening, or fishing. He needed a drug therapy that would fit in with his active schedule. Today, Walker relies on a daily injection of COPAXONE’ (glatiramer acetate injection) to manage his MS, and although individual results may vary, he has not hada relapse since starting COPAXONE. Havingseen first hand the benefits of drug therapy in his own life, Walker wants to encourage others to find a therapy that worksfor them. “Tt hurts my heart when I meet someone with MS and find out they have stopped therapy,” said Walker. “There are drugs that can reduce relapses, and I hope everyone talks to their doctor about them. For me, it has been CoPaAx- ONE’. Until there’s a cure, I’m taking COPAXONE’.” Teva Neuroscience is sponsor- ing Clay Walker’s efforts to raise awareness about the importance of drug therapy. For more information about Walker, log onto www.copaxone.com. Foundation to Raise Funds for a Cure Walker also has formed the Band Against MS™ Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to providing information and support to people who are living with MSwhile funding research efforts to find a cure. “We are all hoping for a cure, and we won’t stop working until we find one,” says Walker. To learn more about the Band Against MS™ Foundation, purchase merchandise, or make a donation, log onto www.band-against-ms.org or call 1-800-728-8051. COPAXONE’ is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in relapsing-remitting MS. The most commonside effects of COPAXONE’ are redness, pain, swelling, itching, or a lumpat the site of injection, flushing, chest pain, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness. These reactions are usually mild and seldom require professional treatment. Patients should tell their doctor about any side effects. Somepatients report a short-term reaction right after injecting CoPAXONE’. This reaction can involve flushing (feeling of warmth and/or redness), chest tightness or pain with heart palpitations, anxiety, and trouble breathing. These symptoms generally appear within minutes of an injection, last about 15 minutes, and go away by themselves without further problems. Teva Neuroscience, Inc. mar- kets COPAXONE’. COPAXONE’ is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Teva Neuroscience, Inc. is a sub- sidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Call 1-800-887-8100 or log onto www.copaxone.com for more information about CoPAXONE’, Team CoPAXONE’, or multiple sclerosis. See additional important information at Attp:/ /www.copaxone.com / pi/index.html orcall 1-800-887-8100.
