Winners of the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship Program announced first edition attracted over 300 applicants

MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Shire Canada Inc. ("Shire") is proud to announce the winners of the first edition of the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship Program. Four Canadian adults, each diagnosed with ADHD and pursuing a post-secondary education, were recently awarded the unique scholarship that combines financial support for tuition and one year's worth of ADHD coaching services. The four deserving candidates were selected by an independent panel of judges out of more than 300 applications.

Congratulations to the winners* of the 2013 Shire Canada ADHD Scholarships:

• Jennifer Burns, Toronto, Ontario, University of Guelph
• Zac Erikson, Lethbridge, Alberta, University of Lethbridge
  *Two of the 2013 recipients requested that their names not be made public.

"On behalf of our team, I wish to congratulate the winners of the 2013 edition of the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship Program," said Claude Perron, Vice President and General Manager at Shire. "We were very pleased by the program's success, which exceeded our expectations considering this was its first year. Support from the ADHD and academic communities has been great, and the numerous applications we received reinforces that the Scholarship answers a need."

Building on its success, Shire confirms there will be a 2014 Scholarship Program, scheduled to be launched later this fall. Canadians interested in the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship Program can visit www.shireadhdscholarship.com for full details, and sign-up for the newsletter to receive important updates regarding the program.

Supporting adults with ADHD

Contrary to common belief, ADHD is not exclusive to childhood; studies have shown that approximately two-thirds of children with ADHD continue to experience impairment into adulthood¹. "As well as core difficulties in regulating attention, adults with ADHD typically have significant difficulties with planning, time management, and organizational skills. Considering the increased pressure of post-secondary education on these skills, it is extremely important that these young adults receive the support and appropriate accommodations they require to achieve their academic goals", declared Heidi Bernhardt, President and Executive Director of CADDAC, and member of the jury for the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship Program.

"When you have ADHD, things that are usually taken for granted - such as staying focused in class or prioritizing tasks - can be a real challenge", explained Zac Erikson, student at the University of Lethbridge. "I got a great boost in motivation and confidence when I learned that I won the Shire ADHD scholarship; I know that working with my ADHD coach throughout the year will help me focus and succeed."

About the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship Program

The Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship consists of a monetary prize of $1,500 to help with tuition in a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada, AND one year of personalized ADHD coaching provided by the Edge Foundation, a non-profit organization that specializes in ADHD coaching for students. The coaching services offered within the scope of the Program are worth an estimated $4,400 per person.

Applicants to the Shire Canada ADHD Scholarship are asked to submit a personal essay describing the impact ADHD has on their lives as well as share their thoughts about ADHD coaching. Winners are then selected by an independent panel of judges comprised of established Canadian ADHD advocates or experts.

About Shire

Shire enables people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives. Our strategy is to focus on developing and marketing innovative specialty medicines to meet significant unmet patient needs. We provide treatments in Neuroscience, Rare Diseases, Gastrointestinal, Internal Medicine and Regenerative Medicine and we are developing treatments for symptomatic conditions treated by specialist physicians in other targeted therapeutic areas. www.shire.com

About Shire Canada Inc.

Shire Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Shire with headquarters located in Montréal (Saint-Laurent), Québec. For more information, please visit: www.shirecanada.com.

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¹ Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance. What is ADHD? http://www.caddra.ca/cms4/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=233〈=en, accessed August 20, 2013.

SOURCE: Shire Canada Inc.

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