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

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.

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.

P-LLY

SOURCE Lilly Diabetes