Bayer Diabetes Care announces the winners of 'Express Your Simple Win Creativity Contest'

Dec 5 2009

Bayer Diabetes Care today announced the three grand prize winners of Bayer's "Express Your Simple Win Creativity Contest." Nick Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, selected the winning video entries submitted by children with diabetes from across the country. The grand prize is an in-person meeting today with Nick.

The winners, who have type 1 diabetes like Nick, are: Caleb, age 6, from Danbury, CT, who dreams of becoming a major league pitcher one day. Caleb's Simple Win is being able to play baseball. Bradley, age 11, from Monaca, PA, whose Simple Win is music, loves to sing and has even written some of his own songs. Lauren, age 16, from Gurnee, IL, who volunteers with local organizations and her Simple Win is giving back to her community.

To enter the contest, young people with diabetes were asked to create a 15-30 second video creatively showing how they express their Simple Win, whether through an original lyric, drawing, photo, or other idea.

Bayer Diabetes Care and Nick Jonas established the "Express Your Simple Win Creativity Contest" as part of their ongoing partnership to educate and motivate people living with diabetes. Nick, who uses Bayer's CONTOUR® meter, has inspired young people with diabetes by sharing his Simple Wins: writing lyrics, performing and making music. He was able to creatively express himself through his song about living with diabetes, "A Little Bit Longer."

"I'm inspired by fans who share their stories about living with diabetes, so for me this has been a great experience," said Nick. "I want kids to know that diabetes doesn't have to hold you back. Caleb, Bradley, Lauren, and all the other participants who submitted videos, are great examples of kids achieving their Simple Wins. My hope is that by sharing our stories, we can motivate others to achieve and celebrate their own Simple Wins."

Through their partnership, Nick and Bayer have taken steps to inspire young people with diabetes to achieve Simple Wins: small, everyday victories for managing diabetes that can lead to big differences over time.

Winner Lauren said, "I love helping others who need help because I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed by living with diabetes. Having a support system makes the struggle easier, so I hope I can be someone else's support system and help them get through a rough time. I know I will never be able to touch the number of lives that Nick can, but that is why I reach out as much as I can to those in need."

Over the past several months, more than 160 kids with diabetes uploaded their videos on www.NicksSimpleWins.com and during the last week of each month visitors to the site had the opportunity to view and vote for their favorite three videos. Each monthly winner received a prize and was eligible for the grand prize drawing.