San Diego, May 28, 2019 – Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (NASDAQ: TNDM), a leading insulin delivery and diabetes technology company, today announced its sponsorship of Project 50-in-50, a mountaineering challenge by two climbers with type 1 diabetes—Michael Shelver and Patrick Mertes. To achieve their goal, Shelver and Mertes will need to summit the highest peaks in each of the 50 United States in 50 days or less. Only two individuals have accomplished this before, none with type 1 diabetes.
“Trailblazing has been an important part of solving the challenges of diabetes management,” said Tandem Diabetes Care President and CEO, John Sheridan. “We are excited to support Patrick and Michael in their Project 50-in-50 to demonstrate that anything is possible with type 1 diabetes.”
Since first attempted in 1966, only 274 people have successfully summited all 50 state high points—most doing so over the course of their lifetime—and none living with type 1 Diabetes. In the summer of 2019, Shelver and Mertes will road trip more than 16,000 miles—hike, run, ski and walk more than 315 miles of trails—all while managing their blood glucose levels thanks to their t:slim X2 insulin pump.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with Tandem Diabetes Care. From the PROJECT’s inception, Michael and I have felt strongly about only partnering with companies we can confidently endorse,” said Diabetes Family Connection Executive Director Patrick Mertes. “After hours of research and testing out various systems, we’re confident the t:slim X2 pump combined with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor will be the best tools for aiding in our diabetes management while we tackle this adventure."
Project 50-in-50 is an initiative of The Diabetes Family Connection, a North Carolina based nonprofit corporation. In addition to achieving a new milestone in mountaineering, Shelver and Mertes hope their attempt will grow local and global communities of people with diabetes inspired to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.
“As a team, we embrace the idea that the organ between your ears plays a much bigger role in defining limitations than a broken pancreas ever could,” said Mertes. “We feel that diabetes should never determine the limit of what an individual desires to do. Project 50-in-50 is a movement to demonstrate this truth.”
To follow their progress, and to learn more about how to contribute individual donations, visit www.project50in50.org.
Tandem Diabetes Care periodically provides sponsorships and grants for educational and empowerment programing in the diabetes community. Grants are awarded to qualified non-profit organizations with the mission to empower people with diabetes, and to assist local initiatives, events, and programing that support Tandem’s mission, its employees, and corporate citizenship.
The Diabetes Family Connection
The mission of The Diabetes Family Connection (www.thedfc.org) is to positively transform life with diabetes through the power of community. The organization provides recreation-based programs focused on building confidence, optimism, and support for families affected by diabetes.
About Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (www.tandemdiabetes.com) is a medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes through relentless innovation and revolutionary customer experience. The Company takes an innovative, user-centric approach to the design, development and commercialization of products for people with diabetes who use insulin. Tandem’s flagship product, the t:slim X2™ insulin pump, is capable of remote software updates using a personal computer and features integrated continuous glucose monitoring. Tandem is based in San Diego, California.
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Tandem Diabetes Care is a registered trademark and t:slim X2 is a trademark of Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. Dexcom G6 is a registered trademark of Dexcom, Inc. All other third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.
Tandem Diabetes Care Contact Information:
Media: Steve Sabicer, 714-907-6264, ssabicer@thesabicergroup.com
Investors: Susan Morrison, 858-366-6900 x7005, IR@tandemdiabetes.com
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