Special Athletes of Team Alabama Go for the Gold.

Business Editors, Health/Medical & Sports Writers

MONTGOMERY, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2002

Team Alabama is the state's entry into the U.S. Transplant Games to be held at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Florida June 26-29. Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation and Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the games are Olympic-style sporting events for recipients that have received life-saving solid organ or bone marrow transplants. Our team will be joining thousands of recipients, donor families and supporters representing teams from across the United States in what promises to be the largest-ever gathering of Transplant recipients. Team Alabama is comprised of 60+ athletes ranging in age from 3 to 69 years of age. The athletes represent the entire state, from Mobile to Chatom, Ozark to Montgomery, Calera to Trussville, Tuscaloosa to Winfield and Moulton to Huntsville. The athletes will be competing in various age groups in Swimming, Track and field, Golf, Bowling, Tennis, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball.

On Saturday June 8th from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. at Huntingdon College Campus/Russell dining hall in Montgomery, Alabama, we will hold our send-off celebration. Complete with food, drinks, local and state dignitaries and music supplied by The Bulletproof Marshmallows and Shotgun and the Gentry's (each band features a recipient or donor family member). Each athlete and donor family member has their own incredible story to tell and will be available for interviews, before and after the ceremony.

To make arrangements or for further information, please contact Ms. Mimi Rush at the National Kidney Foundation of Alabama at 334/265-1033.