> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Medtronic Announces 2014 "Global Heroes" Team - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/medtronic_announces_2014_global_heroes_team_0811141221/ - Published: 2014-08-11T13:20:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:32:50.000Z - Description: Twenty-five distance runners from 10 countries, each living with a medical device for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders or chronic pain, will run the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or TC 10 Mile on October 5 as the 2014 Global Heroes team. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Miscellaneous, Health News, #vivvo-import *Distance Runners from Around the World Who Benefit from Medical Technology* *to Run Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Events this Fall* **MINNEAPOLIS - August 11, 2014 -** Twenty-five long-distance runners who benefit from medical technology will be honored as "Medtronic Global Heroes" when they run as a team in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or TC 10 Mile on Sunday, October 5, 2014. This year's team includes runners from 10 different countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Israel, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. Each runner has a medical device to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders. The Medtronic Global Heroes program, launched in 2006, celebrates people who have overcome chronic disease conditions and continue to demonstrate a passion for running. "Through their running and service, the Global Heroes represent fully empowered patients who not only actively manage their own health needs, but are also proactively contributing to the well-being of their families, friends and communities," says Dr. Jacob Gayle, vice president, Medtronic Philanthropy. Global Heroes are selected by Twin Cities In Motion, the non-profit organization that directs the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Each participant and their guest are awarded a race entry and travel expenses to Minnesota. Additional information about the Medtronic Global Heroes team members can be found at [www.medtronic.com/globalheroes](http://www.medtronic.com/globalheroes?ref=foodconsumer.org), or visit the Medtronic Global Heroes Facebook page. **The 2014 Medtronic Global Heroes are:** **Marathon Participants** **Molly Dicroce, Arvada, Colorado** Dicroce has a spinal and bone fusion device to treat lumbar degenerative disc disease. **Jason Dunn, Smithville, Missouri** Dunn has a stent to treat coronary artery disease. **Gillian Forsyth, Chicago, Illinois** Forsyth has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes. **Kent Grelling, Orinda, California** Grelling has an artificial heart valve and a conduit to treat a congenital bicuspid aorta and ascending aortic aneurysm. **Lynn Hall, Lafayette, Colorado** Hall has a neurostimulator to manage pain. **Kristen Hallock-Waters, Tabernacle, New Jersey** Hallock-Waters has a pacemaker to treat heart sinus node dysfunction. **Roberto Itimura, Jundiai, Brazil** Itimura has a stent to treat coronary artery disease. **Dawn Kenwright, Lampeter, United Kingdom** Kenwright has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes. **Luis Moreira Da Silva, Neuchâtel, Switzerland** Moreira Da Silva has an artificial heart valve to treat ascending aorta aneurism and aortic stenosis on bicuspid valve. **Saci Mowinski, Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada** Mowinski has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes. **Joshua Simon, Key Biscayne, Florida** Simon has a shunt to treat hydrocephalus. **Amanda Zullo, Saranac Lake, New York** Zullo has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes. **Ten Mile Participants** **Monika Allen, San Diego, California** Allen has a shunt to treat hydrocephalus. **Brad Ashfield, Haddon Township, New Jersey** Ashfield has a lumbar cage to correct a ruptured spinal disc and a stent to treat coronary artery disease. **Rachel Bishop, Holland, Michigan** Bishop has an artificial heart valve to treat a congenital bicuspid aorta and ascending aortic aneurysm. **Gabriel Estrada Mejia, Bogota, Colombia** Estrada Mejia has an insulin pump to manage Type 1 diabetes. **Roger Frisch, Plymouth, Minnesota** Frisch receives deep brain stimulation therapy to help manage symptoms of essential tremor. **George Gilbert, Cuffley, United Kingdom** Gilbert has an artificial heart valve to treat bicuspid aortic valve regurgitation. **Kimi Hall, Southlake, Texas** Hall has a pacemaker to treat arrhythmia caused by heart block. **Geoff Henderson, Binalong, Australia** Henderson has a pacemaker to treat sick sinus syndrome. **Fei Jiao, Sanmenxia City, China** Jiao receives deep brain stimulation therapy to help manage symptoms of Parkinson's disease. **Carrie Romero, Columbia, Tennessee** Romero has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat cardiomyopathy. **Alana Savage, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada** Savage has a septal occluder device to treat an atrial septal defect. **Carolin Suhayda, Roma, Italy** Suhayda has a pacemaker to treat sick sinus syndrome. **Guy Yohanan, Givat Ela, Israel** Yohanan receives deep brain stimulation therapy to help manage symptoms of Parkinson's disease. **About Medtronic Global Heroes** A cooperative effort between Twin Cities In Motion and Medtronic Philanthropy, the Global Heroes program recognizes runners from around the world who have a medical device to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain and spinal and neurological disorders. There is no restriction on manufacturer. **About Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon** Known as The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America(TM), the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend is a three-day celebration of fitness that includes the Medtronic TC Family Events, TC 5K run/walk, TC 10K, Medtronic TC 10 Mile, and the marathon. Twin Cities In Motion is the non-profit organization that directs race weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit [tcmevents.org](https://www.tcmevents.org/?ref=foodconsumer.org) for more information. **About Medtronic and Medtronic Philanthropy** Medtronic, Inc. ([www.medtronic.com](http://www.medtronic.com/?ref=foodconsumer.org)), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic Philanthropy focuses on expanding access to quality chronic disease care among underserved populations worldwide ([www.medtronic.com/philanthropy](http://www.medtronic.com/philanthropy?ref=foodconsumer.org)) \-end- Contacts: Rich Fischer Medtronic Philanthropy [+1-763-505-2975](tel:%2B1-763-505-2975) Danielle Pierce Tunheim [+1-952-851-1602](tel:%2B1-952-851-1602)