'Sharing Miracles' Television Program to Feature Mountain Climber and Cancer Survivor Sean Swarner

'Sharing Miracles' Television Program to Feature Mountain Climber and Cancer Survivor Sean Swarner

WASHINGTON, March 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This month, Sharing Miracles -- a 30-minute public affairs television program that tells the compelling and inspirational stories of real patients -- will feature Sean Swarner, a two-time cancer survivor who has climbed the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.

Swarner was first diagnosed with the fourth -- and final -- stage of Hodgkin's disease at age 13. Despite being given merely days to live, he survived, only to be diagnosed several years later with the rare and deadly Askin's sarcoma. Against all odds, he defeated the Askin's tumor, and is believed to be the only person to have been diagnosed with both of these cancers.

Following his second conquest over cancer, Swarner challenged himself to take up mountain climbing in the name of cancer patients worldwide. Since then, despite having use of only one lung, he has climbed the highest peaks on the planet, from Mt. Everest in 2002 to Mt. McKinley just last year. He has become an advocate for cancer patients and survivors, carrying a flag atop each summit that reads, "Dedicated to all those affected by cancer in this small world!! Keep climbing!!"

In this month's Sharing Miracles show, Swarner speaks of the importance of hope, whether the struggle is against cancer or against a harsh mountain terrain: "The human body can live for 30 days without food, the human condition can sustain itself for 3 days without water, but no human can live for 30 seconds without hope."

In recognition for his perseverance and strength, Swarner was awarded the "Don't Ever Give Up Award," presented by the Jimmy V Foundation and ESPN in 2007. He is currently working to become only the fifth person to complete the "Adventure Grand Slam," which comprises the seven summits as well as treks to both the North and South Poles.

Previous episodes of Sharing Miracles have featured former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who is battling colon cancer; syndicated television talk show host Montel Williams, a multiple sclerosis sufferer; and breast cancer survivors Mayte Prida, a Telemundo personality; and North Carolina State

University women's basketball coach Kay Yow. Future programs will highlight Emmy Award-winning actor Joey Pantoliano, who is most recognizable for his critically-acclaimed performance as "Ralphie Cifaretto" on The Sopranos; Leave it to Beaver television star Jerry Mathers, who is fighting diabetes; and pop icon and Broadway star Deborah Gibson, who has suffered from devastating anxiety attacks. Sharing Miracles is produced by PhRMA's Communications & Public Affairs Department.

Sharing Miracles airs on Sunday mornings on the following network-affiliated stations:

   WUSA-TV (CBS), Washington, DC, 11:30 am-12 noon    WCIA-TV (CBS), Springfield/Champaign/Urbana/Decatur, IL, 10:30 am-11 am    WLAJ-TV (ABC), Lansing, MI, 11 am-11:30 am    WNYT-TV (NBC), Albany/Schenectady/Troy, NY, 11:30 am-12 noon    KOVR-TV (CBS), Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA, 6 am-6:30 am    WBRZ-TV (ABC), Baton Rouge, LA, 11 am-11:30 am    WAPT-TV (ABC), Jackson, MS, 9 am-9:30 am    WOWK-TV (CBS), Charleston/Huntington, WV, 11:30 am-12 noon    WSYX-TV (ABC), Columbus, OH, 7:30 am-8 am    WNAC-TV (FOX), Providence, RI, 10:30 am-11 am    WMTW-TV (ABC), Portland/Augusta, ME, 11:30 am-12 noon    KHBB-TV (ABC), Helena/KFBB-TV (ABC), Great Falls, MT, 10 am-10:30 am    KIVI-TV (ABC), Boise, ID, 8 am-8:30 am    WXIN-TV (FOX), Indianapolis, IN, 11:30 am-12 noon    WMBD-TV (CBS), Peoria, IL, 10 am-10:30 am    WTWC-TV (NBC), Tallahassee, FL, 10 am-10:30 am    WWL-TV (CBS), New Orleans, LA, 7:30 am-8 am    WOI-TV (ABC), Des Moines, IA, 6:30 am-7 am    WVNY-TV (ABC), Burlington/Montpelier, VT, 11:30 am-12 noon    WKOW-TV (ABC), Madison, WI, 11 am-11:30 am   

Also, people around the world are able to view the show each week on PhRMA's Web site, www.phrma.org. For free DVDs of Sharing Miracles, please contact the PhRMA press line at 202-835-3460.

The show's corresponding Web site, www.sharingmiracles.com, is an interactive forum for people to relate their own personal stories of hope and survival. Every patient's battle is unique, but the collective power of shared experiences can offer great help and courage to others who are fighting for their lives.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) helps uninsured and financially-struggling patients access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. To find out if they may qualify for help, patients should call toll-free 1-888-4PPA-NOW to speak with a trained specialist or visit www.pparx.org.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $43 billion in 2006 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006.

PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org/

For information on stories of hope and survival, visit: http://sharingmiracles.com/

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org/

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org/

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

CONTACT: Kate Michael of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America, +1-202-835-3460

Web Site: http://www.buysafedrugs.info/
http://www.innovation.org/
http://www.phrma.org/
http://www.pparx.org/
http://www.sharingmiracles.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment