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Expressions Of Courage Art Contest - Winners Announced
Fri Nov 14
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Linda Kearns of Coatesville, Penn., Selected as Winner of National
Expressions of Courage® Art Contest for People with Epilepsy
Annual Contest Aims to Reduce Stigma of Epilepsy
In celebration of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, and the Epilepsy Foundation are proud to recognize Linda Kearns, 31, of Coatesville, as a winner of the 2008 Expressions of Courage® art contest. Now in its sixth year, the contest recognizes creativity and the ability to demonstrate feelings of living with epilepsy through art. The contest attracts hundreds of entries from adults and children throughout the country.
“Expressions of Courage allows people with epilepsy to serve as strong advocates for their condition by sharing their stories through their beautiful and talented artwork,” said Epilepsy Foundation President and CEO Eric R. Hargis. “The contest also allows others to learn the truth about people with epilepsy – that epilepsy does not define who you are.”
The winning artwork will be showcased in books, calendars and in a traveling exhibit to raise public awareness of epilepsy and inspire others with the condition. Selected from hundreds of entries from people willing to share their talents and perspectives of the world around them through art, Linda’s artwork will be featured in the Expressions of Courage® calendars.
The drawing Linda submitted to the art contest, titled “Togetherness,” depicts the moment she first touched her true love’s hands. She finds the drawing is a pleasant reminder of the bond she and Ron share and the support he provides her in sickness and in health.
Winners were chosen by a panel of four judges who based their selections on creativity and the ability to demonstrate feelings of living with epilepsy through art. Panelists included:
- Elizabeth Thiele, MD, PhD, director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital
- John Schneider, Epilepsy Foundation Vice President of Communications
- Lillian Fitzgerald, member of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare Board of Directors
- William Whyte, product director of Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®
Contest entries were categorized into three age groups: children ages 12 years old and younger; teens ages 13 to 17 years old; and adults 18 years old and older. To view Linda’s winning artwork and learn more about each artist’s personal experience with epilepsy, visit www.ExpressionsOfCourage.com. To learn more about managing epilepsy, download the Epilepsy Empowerment Podcast available on the Expressions of Courage®Web site. In the podcast, leading experts and celebrity advocates discuss strategies to better manage epilepsy and provide advice on creating individualized treatment plans.
“When I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 12, I lived in denial about my condition because I felt it made me different from other people,” said Kearns. “However, as I got older, I began to understand that epilepsy is not something to feel ashamed of and not something that influences who I am as a person.”
Expressions of Courage® is developed and funded by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Epilepsy Foundation supports Expressions of Courage® through announcements to its membership and distribution of program materials.
Attached File: L Kearns Winners Anncmnt Newsletter.doc