Bayer's Third Annual Virtual Walk for Hemophilia Raises Funds, Brings Together the Hemophilia Community

WHIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare and the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) today announced the successful conclusion of the third annual Virtual Walk for Hemophilia, an engaging, online contest designed to raise awareness and funds for those living with bleeding disorders.

The Virtual Walk for Hemophilia (www.walkforhemophilia.com) employs a website where visitors can virtually "walk" online in support of people with hemophilia. Virtual walkers choose which NHF chapter they support, and create customized avatars to represent themselves in the virtual walk.

As part of this year's Walk, Bayer provided $30,000 in sponsorship funds to the national office of the NHF and an additional $33,500 in sponsorship funds to the five chapters with the greatest number of walkers, for a total of more than $60,000.

"Bayer's Virtual Walk is a fun, exciting way for us to engage with the community," said Karen Krzmarzick, Executive Director of the Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area. "We're grateful for the sponsorship funds Bayer provided to us, and know that they will help us do even more for our constituents in the coming year."

The chapters receiving sponsorship funds are:

First place: Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area, with 2729 walkers, received $15,000
Second place: Nevada Chapter, NHF, with 1133 walkers, received $10,000
Third place: Bleeding Disorders Alliance Illinois, with 1075 walkers, received $5,000
Fourth place: Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation, with 385 walkers received $2,500
Fifth place: Colorado Chapter, NHF, with 351 walkers, received $1,000

Bayer introduced a new twist this year, designed to increase awareness virally, by providing an additional walker "credit" to chapters whose participants shared the event on Twitter or Facebook.   In addition, any chapter with more than 500 virtual walkers received $500, and any chapter with more than 1,000 walkers received $1,000 in sponsorship funds. 

About Hemophilia A
Hemophilia A, also known as factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia, is a largely inherited bleeding disorder in which one of the proteins needed to form blood clots in the body is missing or reduced. Hemophilia A is the most common type of hemophilia and is characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the, joints, muscles or internal organs.

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals business of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG. Bayer HealthCare is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, and combines the activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. As a specialty pharmaceutical company, Bayer HealthCare provides products for Cardiopulmonary Medicine, Hematology, Neurology, Oncology and Women's Healthcare. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

BAYER®  and the Bayer Cross® are registered trademarks of Bayer.

Forward-Looking Statement
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Intended for U.S. Media Only

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SOURCE Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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