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Oxygen-Dependent Senior Finishes Cycling Trek
HELiOS® Portable Liquid Oxygen System From Puritan Bennett / Mallinckrodt, a Business Unit of Tyco Healthcare, Allows Cyclist to Realize Dream NEW YORK, NY - October 4, 2004 - On Oct. 5, 61-year-old Mark Junge from Cheyenne, Wyo., will ride the last mile of his 3,400-mile trek from San Francisco to New York City, as he pedals into New York's Times Square for a victory celebration. This cross-country trek is unlike any other because Mr. Junge (pronounced "Young-ee") is not your typical cyclist. Junge suffers from blood clots in his lungs, and he has traveled the entire Lincoln Highway journey with a HELiOS® Plus Portable Oxygen Unit on his hip as a constant companion. His journey has been one of personal triumph and overflowing motivation for seniors and oxygen therapy patients nationwide. The HELiOS Personal Oxygen System Junge uses is from Puritan Bennett, a business unit of Mallinckrodt, part of Tyco Healthcare. Unlike cumbersome traditional oxygen canisters, the HELiOS Plus unit is only 10 inches tall, weighs 3.6 pounds when filled and lasts up to 10 hours on a setting of two liters per minute. In comparison, traditional oxygen cylinders are 42 inches tall, weigh 15 pounds and last approximately 4 hours. They are typically rolled along with the patient and can be heavy and bulky. As Junge makes his final ride into New York City, Puritan Bennett will be introducing the HELiOS MarathonT Portable Oxygen Unit, which is the first HELiOS product to provide both "demand flow" and continuous flow oxygen - enabling oxygen therapy patients, who may not have previously qualified for the HELiOS Plus unit due to the need for higher oxygen levels in continuous flow, to enjoy new levels of comfort, convenience and mobility. The new unit, which will be available in the near future, is designed to provide unprecedented duration for a portable liquid oxygen system, lasting up to 20 hours on a demand flow setting and up to 5.5 hours in a continuous flow mode. "Seeing this journey through has been more than a realization of a lifelong dream," said Mark Junge. "I've been cycling my entire life, and I thought this dream was crushed when my pulmonologist told me I had to go on oxygen over a year ago, but HELiOS has kept my dream alive. Beyond my dream, this trip became a cause with each mile I rode. It allowed me to demonstrate and inspire oxygen-dependent individuals and seniors across the nation that they can and must remain active and independent." Junge's condition is just one of many types of illnesses treated with oxygen therapy. Many oxygen patients today suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. According to the American Lung Association, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death - behind cardiovascular disease, cancers and stroke - claiming the lives of 118,000 Americans annually. In 2002, 11.2 million U.S. adults were diagnosed with COPD but up to 24 million U.S. adults have evidence of impaired lung function, indicating an under-diagnosis of the disease. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common diseases that compose COPD. "Unfortunately, most Americans are unaware of the symptoms of COPD, like a persistent cough and tightness of their chest, and often by the time they visit a physician, their disease has progressed to be quite serious," said Neil Schachter, M.D., medical director of Respiratory Care at Mount Sinai Hospital and volunteer for the American Lung Association of the City of New York. "By quitting smoking and talking with their doctor about changes in their health, people can help prevent COPD and if diagnosed, manage their disease so they can resume healthy, active lives." Junge departed from San Francisco on June 12, 2004, at San Francisco's Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, the start of the historic Lincoln Highway, which sprawls through America's northern heartland. Along the way, Junge and his wife have met with well-wishers, press and legislators in an effort to raise awareness about the benefits of an oxygen delivery system such as HELiOS that allows oxygen-dependent Americans to maintain active lifestyles. "Mark's trip has been an unforgettable journey for everyone involved. His unfaltering drive has helped us spread the message of these systems so that more patients are aware of the life changing benefits," said Randy Whitfield, president of Puritan Bennett. "While Medicare and most insurance plans cover portable liquid oxygen systems when medically indicated and prescribed by a physician, our challenge is to educate more physicians, patients and legislators about these systems. HELiOS Marathon opens this door to many more patients and allows Mark's message to benefit everyone who is ambulatory but tethered to traditional oxygen cylinders." Whitfield added, "On a personal note, we would like to thank Mark for his vision, enthusiasm and commitment throughout this trek. His example has been and is an inspiration to us all." For more information about Mark Junge's trip and the HELiOS Personal Oxygen System, visit www.HELiOSFreedomTour.com or call the following toll-free number to learn more about the HELiOS system: 1-888-4HELiOS (888-443-5467).
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