Poise Partners With Comedic Actresses Sherri Shepherd and Cloris Leachman To Put Menopause On The Hot Seat

Duo Will Headline National Hot Flash Road Show Comedy Tour This Fall

Assets Available to Media:

• Dr. Marla Shapiro headshot
  
• Poise Hot Flash Road Show and The 2nd Talk logos
  
• Hot Flash Road Show Digital Flyer

TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - Hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats, oh my! Comedic actresses Sherri Shepherd and Cloris Leachman are finding the humour in menopause by headlining the Poise brand's Hot Flash Road Show, a free comedy tour making stops in New York with a live simulcast in Toronto and Los Angeles this fall.  Open to the public, the Hot Flash Road Show is part of The 2nd Talk (www.The2ndTalk.com), an effort led by the Poise brand to start a whole new way to talk about menopause and help women approach this life stage with confidence.

Fifty million women across North America are approaching or experiencing menopause, yet many are hesitant to discuss this very normal life stage. Women probably remember having a first talk that explained their changing bodies as they were approaching puberty, but there is no talk that prepares them for menopause. That's all going to change with The 2nd Talk.

The 2nd Talk also includes:

• A new, first-of-its-kind line of Poise feminine wellness products designed to work naturally with a woman's body to provide comfort during menopause.
• A Harris Interactive study in which women cited humour as their second most popular mechanism for coping with this life stage.

The Hot Flash Road Show comedy tour, which was inspired by the study findings, will pair Shepherd and Leachman to encourage women to have The 2nd Talk and help normalize the menopause conversation. The Toronto live satellite simulcast will also feature special guest Dr. Marla Shapiro, CTV's medical consultant, contributor to 'Canada AM' and host of the new national show 'Dr. Marla and Friends.'

"I'm no stranger to talking about sensitive topics, so I jumped at the chance to partner with Poise brand for the Hot Flash Road Show," says Shepherd, co-host of ABC's 'The View,' and a Daytime Emmy Award winner. "With this comedy tour, I'll help women have The 2nd Talk by bringing humour to this lifestage."

"At 86 years young, I definitely have my share of menopause stories that I think every woman will eventually relate to," says Leachman, a nine time Emmy Award winning actress and star of FOX's 'Raising Hope.' "Eight in 10 women say it's time to change the way society thinks about menopause, and the Hot Flash Road Show is a unique opportunity to get people to think differently about this life stage."

The Hot Flash Road Show will be a live simulcast from New York to Toronto's TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 21. The Toronto event will also feature a cocktail reception in advance of the show; a Q&A session with Dr. Marla Shapiro and relationship therapist Ashley Howe will follow. Visit www.Poise.com/RSVP to sign up for free tickets.  Attendees will help the brand reach its goal of having 1 million women join The 2nd Talk by World Menopause Day on October 18.

"Poise feels it is important to encourage conversations about difficult topics, and doing it with a bit of humour helps," says Paula Montoya, Poise Brand Planning Manager at Kimberly-Clark Canada. "Having Sherri and Cloris provide a new outlook on menopause by participating in the Hot Flash Road Show is a good step to start changing the way we talk about menopause, and the way women feel about experiencing this life stage."

Millions of women already rely on Poise brand for discreet protection from Light Bladder Leakage, but the brand's new feminine wellness line will help address common menopause symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and odour. The line features:

• Roll-On Cooling Gel and Body Cooling Towelettes to help the more than 70 per cent of Canadian women who experience hot flashes feel comfortable and refreshed when one strikes by providing a cooling sensation.
• Personal Lubricant designed to enhance the intimate moments and help women who experience vaginal dryness.
• Panty Fresheners that have a fresh, clean scent to help women who experience odours feel more confident.
• Feminine Wash to provide daily freshness.

To learn more about the new line of Poise brand wellness products and join The 2nd Talk, visit www.The2ndTalk.com.

About the Poise Brand and Kimberly-Clark
Launched in 1992 by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Poise brand is the market leader in Light Bladder Leakage protection products for women. In July 2012, the brand expanded into the feminine wellness category with the introduction of the Poise Feminine Wellness line - a first-of-its-kind line of over-the-counter products designed specifically to provide women with comfort during menopause.  For more information, visit http://www.poise.com.

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 140-year history of innovation, visit http://www.kimberly-clark.com.

SOURCE: Kimberly Clark

Sydney Dare, Ketchum Canada
416-355-7427
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