The National MS Society, Biogen Idec, Elan, and MSWorld Recognize MS Leaders of Hope(SM) Award Winners

Seven Winners Honored at the National MS Society Conference in Atlanta, Georgia

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Biogen Idec, (NASDAQ:BIIB), Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) and MSWorld(R) announcedtoday the winners of the MS Leaders of Hope award, which recognizespeople with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their caregivers who havedemonstrated ways of managing the challenges of their disease thatuniquely inspire others.

This year, over 2,000 entries were submitted from the UnitedStates and Canada. Entries were submitted in seven categoriesrepresenting areas of life that are often challenged by MS: mobility,relationship, time management, employment/workplace, memory,caregiver, and youth. Nearly 29,000 votes were cast for 21 finalistsover a one-month period. The seven winners received their awardstoday, including a $1,000 cash prize, at the National MS SocietyAnnual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

"We would like to thank all those who submitted their inspiringstories and creative solutions to the MS Leaders of Hope awards. TheMS community continues to amaze us with its passion, spirit andeagerness to share ways to improve the lives of others," said JoyceNelson, president and chief executive officer, National MS Society.

The following winners' stories can be found onwww.msleadersofhope.com:

-- Mobility - Sarah Hunter, South Jordan, UT: At age 16, Sarah, an avid basketball player and fan, was diagnosed with MS. She had such difficulty walking that she told her team she was going to quit basketball. At her team's urging, Sarah resolved to continue to play. Her senior year, she made the team and even played in a few games. She became an inspiration to her teammates and others.

-- Relationship - Jennifer Leone, Fresno, CA: To give her friends and family a sense of some of the physical limitations of a person with MS, she hosted a party where all attendees had to bind their feet together with rope, put five-to-10-pound weights on their arms, wrap elastic bands around their fingers, and then perform simple tasks such as buttoning a shirt or writing a note. For many of her friends it was the first time they truly understood what it was like to live with MS.

-- Time Management - Donna Goldman, Buffalo, IL: Juggling a busy schedule of family and work proved to be a challenge for Donna, and her MS made it difficult for her to remember to bring many things she would need throughout the day. To help remedy this, Donna began to use her car as an extension of her home, keeping coupons, gift certificates, an extra change of clothing, bottled water and snacks in a backpack in the trunk. This helped her prepare for many MS-related challenges and manage her time more effectively.

-- Employment/Workplace - Joy Gravely, Greenwood, SC: One year after her diagnosis, Joy found that she had to give up what she had loved doing for 22 years - teaching. She began tutoring local children at home, and subsequently opened Hopewood Academy for 25 students, which increased to 90 over three years. Joy and her staff ensured that students not only learned about core subjects but also about having special needs such as MS.

-- Memory - Buddy Hayes, Chesapeake, VA: Because of her MS, Buddy had problems remembering directions when driving to doctors' appointments or running errands. In order to solve the problem, she bought a small photo album, printed directions in large font, along with phone numbers, and organized them in alphabetical order. Buddy's "How Do I Get There?" book has made trips easier for her and for others she knows.

-- Caregiving - Jody Roberts, San Diego, CA: Before Jody went to college, she wanted to find a way to keep her father's memory strong and his outlook positive rather than focused on the challenges of his MS. She decided to buy a personalized page-a-day calendar and write a favorite memory or dream of the two of them. The calendar turned out to be her father's most prized possession. Her dad passed away two weeks before she started her senior year in college, however, Jody has remained active in the MS community, including participating in numerous fundraising activities the last five years.

-- Youth - Brandhi Russo, West Chester, OH: Brandhi was diagnosed with MS at the age of 13, and, as a result, faced a unique set of challenges. Brandhi started the MSKidsConnection, which promotes a better understanding of pediatric MS and provides support and resources to children and families. They host seminars at local schools, including the first regional College and Career Day for young MS patients, featuring successful professionals with MS.

"The MS Leaders of Hope winners have demonstrated exemplarycourage and innovation in dealing with the challenges that come withliving with this difficult disease. They, and many others, inspire usat Biogen Idec to extend our leadership in providing support anddeveloping new therapies that can help serve the significant unmetneed that exists for people with MS," said James C. Mullen, chiefexecutive officer, Biogen Idec.

"The MS Leaders of Hope program has successfully showcased thelives of many inspirational individuals in the MS community. Patientshelping patients is what MSWorld is all about, and these individualswill help and inspire so many to improve the quality of their lives."said Kathleen Wilson MA, MFA, president and founder of MSWorld. "Thecategories of this competition reflect the complexity of thechallenges facing people with MS. Creativity is definitely part of thesolution when it comes to managing each day with multiple sclerosis."

"Elan is proud to be a part of the MS Leaders of Hope. Thestrength and spirit of these winners, and of all MS patients aroundthe world, continues to motivate us as we work to make a positivedifference in the lives of these patients and their loved ones," saidKelly Martin, president and chief executive officer, Elan.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable disease of thecentral nervous system that, according to the National MS Society,affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States andapproximately 2.5 million people worldwide. It is a disease typicallyof young adults, mostly women, with onset typically between 20 and 50years of age. Each hour someone is newly diagnosed. MS symptoms mayinclude vision problems, loss of balance, numbness, difficulty walkingand even complete paralysis.

About The National MS Society

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, founded in 1946, supportsmore MS research, offers more services to people with MS, providesmore professional education programs, and advances more MS advocacyefforts than any other MS organization in the world.

About Biogen Idec

Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in oncology, neurologyand immunology. As a global leader in the development, manufacturing,and commercialization of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transformsscientific discoveries into advances in human healthcare. For productlabeling, press releases and additional information about the company,please visit www.biogenidec.com.

About Elan

Elan Corporation, plc is a neuroscience-based biotechnologycompany committed to making a difference in the lives of patients andtheir families by dedicating itself to bringing innovations in scienceto fill significant unmet medical needs that continue to exist aroundthe world. Elan shares trade on the New York, London and Dublin StockExchanges. For additional information about the company, please visithttp://www.elan.com.

About MSWorld

Inspired by Christopher Reeve nine years ago, MSWorld began with asingle chat room and has evolved into a comprehensive on-lineself-help site for everyone coping with MS. All of the staff atMSWorld are diagnosed with MS and volunteer their time and talents tohelp others. MSWorld is committed to helping people attain anunparalleled level of independence by providing a safe place on-lineto meet for support and to gather information. "Our Motto at MSWorldis Wellness is a State of Mind. When you are well within your mindyour life has its greatest potential," Kathleen Wilson MA, MFA,President & Founder, www.msworld.org.