Announcing Kidney Stories of Hope Awardees

Toronto, ON – May 17, 2010 –The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC) today announced the awardees of its second annual Kidney Stories of Hope campaign. Five compelling stories were selected by The Kidney Foundation’s panel of judges and each of their authors receives a $500 cash prize made possible through an unrestricted grant from Shire Canada.

The Kidney Stories of Hope campaign empowers Canadians affected by kidney disease to share their personal experiences while participating in a national effort to promote kidney education and research during March, Kidney Health Month. For each entry, the Foundation also received $5 in funding from campaign partner, Shire Canada. Many heartfelt submissions came from across the country, and those awarded each act as a testament to the courage, strength and determination required by those confronted with kidney disease.

Please join us in congratulating the 2010 Kidney Stories of Hope campaign awardees from five regions across Canada:

1. Elaine Andrews - West Vancouver, BC
2. Brenda Delorme – St. Adolphe, MB (Prairies awardee)
3. Debbie Underwood – Zephyr, ON
4. Liz MacRae - Notre Dame de l'Île Perrot, QC
5. Pamela St. Pierre - North Tetagouche, NB (Atlantic awardee)

“Public education and awareness campaigns, kidney research and services, and appropriate and timely treatment are all vital to reducing the burden of kidney disease on individuals and the Canadian health care system,” said Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “The Kidney Stories of Hope campaign provides a platform for members of the kidney community to share their story of hope with a wider audience while helping to raise funds for essential kidney related programs and services. We thank all contributors for their powerful testimonials and particularly congratulate the 2010 awardees.”

2010 Stories of Hope
To read this year’s prized entries and for additional information on the campaign, please visit: http://www.kidney.ca/storiesofhope. The 2010 awardees and The Kidney Foundation of Canada regional spokespeople are available for interview and photo opportunities.

About Kidneys
Every minute, one litre of blood (about one fifth of all the blood pumped by the heart) enters the kidneys through the renal artery to be cleaned, then flows back through the body. Kidneys regulate water in the body, remove wastes and produce hormones to regulate body functions such as blood pressure and red blood cell production.

About The Kidney Foundation of Canada
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national volunteer organization committed to reducing the burden of kidney disease through funding and stimulating innovative research; providing education and support; promoting access to high quality healthcare; and increasing public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation. www.kidney.ca

About Shire
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), gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and kidney disease 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. Shire Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Shire plc. Shire Canada Inc.’s operations are headquartered in Montréal, Québec. For further information on Shire Canada, please visit the Company’s website: www.shirecanada.com

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