Baxter Announces Winners of 'Picture Your Tomorrow, Today' Global Photo Contest

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation today announced the winners of the first "Picture Your Tomorrow, Today" global photo contest at the World Federation of Hemophilia's (WFH) 27th World Congress. Contest entrants included people with hemophilia A from seven different countries who submitted a photograph and explanation of what they believe the future holds for them. Spencer Brill of Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA earned first place in the 14-years-of-age-and-younger category, while Meech Kean of Boudreau Ouest, New Brunswick, Canada took first place in the 15-years-of-age-and-older category. Both contestants were awarded a trip to the WFH Congress, May 21 - 25, 2006 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The two grand prize winning photographs, along with four honorable mention photographs, will be displayed in Baxter's booth at the WFH Congress.

"Baxter offers its heartiest congratulations to this year's winners," said David Holliday, vice president of Baxter's global operations. "These compelling photographs remind us of the progress made in hemophilia management and inspire us to continue to build on our rich history of innovation and our mission to offer the hemophilia community more advanced and convenient therapies."

Brill's photograph features him in front of North Carolina's Pilot Mountain. His corresponding essay explained, "I am the pilot of my life, with many mountains to conquer and worlds to discover." Kean's photograph, entitled "Breaking Boundaries," features a broken fence lying across a sand dune. When explaining the significance of his photograph, Kean said that, "Although I do not know where I'll be in the future, I know for sure that I will not have gotten there by staying within the boundaries of hemophilia." Kean also noted that, "I will not let hemophilia set limitations as to where I will ultimately end up."

"This contest made me realize that even though I have hemophilia, my condition will not stop me from living the life I want to live," said Brill. "I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me."

About "Picture Your Tomorrow, Today"

In part because of treatment advances, great strides have been made in the area of hemophilia management, allowing people with hemophilia to live longer, more active and fulfilling lives than ever before. To recognize and celebrate these strides, Baxter launched "Picture Your Tomorrow, Today," a global photo contest that encouraged participants to portray a photographic vision of what they believe the future holds for them, along with a corresponding essay.

Photographs were judged by an independent international panel of professional photographers. The panel evaluated entries based on their relevance to the contest theme, "Picture Your Tomorrow, Today," level of creativity, original thought and technical elements of the photograph, including: focus; composition; sharpness; and clarity. Winners were selected from two categories: 14 years of age and younger and 15 years of age and older.

In addition to the two grand prizes, Baxter awarded the following individuals with honorable mention prizes:

14-years-of-age-and-younger category: -- Joseph Dyer of Hardwick, Cambridge, United Kingdom -- Mitchell Lessmeister of Bowden, Alberta, Canada 15-years-of-age-and-older category: -- Steve Boucher of Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada -- Jeremy Lessmeister of Bowden, Alberta, Canada

To learn more about "Picture Your Tomorrow, Today" and to view the winning entries, please visit http://www.pictureyourtomorrow.com/ .

About hemophilia A

People with hemophilia A do not produce adequate amounts of factor VIII, which is necessary for blood to effectively clot. Without enough factor VIII, patients can experience spontaneous, uncontrolled internal bleeding that is painful, debilitating and damaging to joints. If untreated, patients with severe hemophilia A have a greatly reduced life expectancy.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 400,000 people in the world have hemophilia, corresponding to a prevalence of 15 to 20 in every 100,000 males born worldwide. Approximately 12,000 people in the United States are currently living with hemophilia.

About Baxter

Baxter's BioScience business focuses its own scientific resources and leverages strategic collaborations to advance the treatment of hemophilia and blood clotting disorders. Building on its history of innovation, the company is developing products that will provide less invasive dosing techniques, require less frequent injections, and reduce the potential for inhibitor formation to improve the lives of people with hemophilia.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. . Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists healthcare professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives.