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Press Release

ADA’s Step Out: Walk To Fight Diabetes Presented By IBC Closes In On $400,000 Fundraising Goal

Corporate Philadelphia brings teams and dollars to the cause

Philadelphia, PA - October 31, 2008 - When more than 2,000 Philadelphia-area residents took part in the American Diabetes Association's new Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes presented by Independence Blue Cross earlier this month, many were walking for their friends and family members who are living with diabetes and its complications. But their participation did more than honor those with the disease. Their efforts both before and after Step Out are helping ADA meet an aggressive target of raising $400,000 to support the association's mission of preventing and curing diabetes and improving the lives of all people affected by it.

Corporate Philadelphia stepped up to the Step Out challenge in a big way, and leading the charge were corporate teams from presenting sponsor Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and the Metro Philadelphia Division of UPS.

"Diabetes is a serious illness that poses life-threatening risks to the people and communities we serve. Preventing this disease and improving the lives of those affected by it is a top priority for IBC. Awareness is the first step and the Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes provided that and much more," said Joseph A. Frick, president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross. "This year's walk brought together families, companies, organizations and the community in a high energy event that raised awareness and funds to help find a cure. Through our partnership with the ADA we can demonstrate to our members, associates and the community that Independence Blue Cross is concerned about this disease and we are here for them every step of the way."

In addition to sponsoring Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, IBC is fighting diabetes year-round by providing free diabetes education seminars, wellness screenings in the community, including its disease management program and wellness incentive offerings to members living with diabetes, Frick added.

Independence Blue Cross reached far and wide leading up to Step Out to encourage participation from all over the region. On Step Out day, more than 200 walkers and Blue Crew volunteers came together for Team IBC. Countless others joined the effort as part of other teams and as individual walkers, thanks to IBC's outreach.

"The money raised by Step Out has put us within reach of a very significant fundraising goal that is critical to the American Diabetes Association's programs and efforts in research, education, and advocacy," said Rosemary Turner, Step Out's honorary chairperson and the vice president of UPS's Metro Philadelphia Division, a sponsor of the event. "I'm proud that so many in our UPS family - more than 400 in all - committed themselves to the cause and stepped out to fight against this insidious disease."

Turner added that Step Out continues to build momentum as the ADA works to cross the fundraising finish line. "Anyone can help us reach Step Out's $400,000 goal," she said. "Just visit www.diabetes.org/stepout, click on the Philadelphia walk, and make a donation that can change people's lives for the better."

In addition to presenting sponsor IBC and corporate sponsor UPS, other Philadelphia Step Out sponsors with walking teams included Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Temple University Health System, Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK, and Acme Markets. National sponsors of the event included Cary's Sugar Free Syrup, Equal, and Kmart Pharmacies.

Donated Funds Are Investment in Research, Education, Outreach
Diabetes takes a devastating toll on the Philadelphia area. About 11 percent, or one in nine people here, have diabetes - nearly three percent higher than the national average. It is also America's fastest growing disease in which nearly 24 million Americans and more than 490,000 Pennsylvanians are living with a disease that has no cure. Sadly, more than 284,000 Americans and approximately 12,000 Pennsylvanians die each year from diabetes complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, and lower-limb amputation.

These statistics speak to the important work of the American Diabetes Association. In 2008, the ADA awarded more than $3 million in research grants to Philadelphia-based diabetes researchers, alone. In addition, the ADA's fundraising dollars help provide community outreach and education programs to more than 12,000 people in the region annually. These donations also support the summer Diabetes Camp for Kids and other youth programs that make a difference in the lives of young people who are living with the disease.

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the association has offices in every region of the country providing services in more than 800 communities. In addition to the ADA's national Step Out, the American Diabetes Association also funds community-based education programs to improve the quality of life for all people living with diabetes. These programs include the Donovan McNabb Diabetes Summer Camp for Kids in Green Lane, Pa., and the Diabetes Expo, offered annually, free to the public, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For more information about ADA, visit www.diabetes.org.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. For more information, visit www.ibx.com.

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