Atlanta, May 1, 2000 - Tonight at its annual Benefit and Gala, the American Foundation for Urologic Disease (A.F.U.D.) presented LPGA professional golfers Terry-Jo Myers and Dottie Pepper with its Presidential Award for their role as co-spokespeople of the "On Course for Better Health" campaign. Launched by A.F.U.D. in March, "On Course for Better Health" is a national initiative designed to raise awareness about interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic and painful bladder condition. ALZA Pharmaceuticals, through an unrestricted educational grant, funded the campaign and also is a recipient of the Presidential Award.

"The Presidential Award is given to those individuals or corporations that have demonstrated a commitment to helping A.F.U.D. achieve its goal of preventing and curing urologic disease," said A.F.U.D President David G. McLeod, M.D., J.D. "Terry-Jo and Dottie, through their involvement in the 'On Course for Better Health' campaign, have helped educate the public about IC while bringing hope to people affected by this painful and frustrating disorder. We are proud and delighted to present our Presidential Award to Terry-Jo, Dottie and ALZA Pharmaceuticals for all their efforts to get the word out about IC."

Terry-Jo Myers, who has lived with IC for more than 15 years, has worked tirelessly to generate awareness about the condition. "IC had a significant impact on both my personal life and career," said Terry-Jo. "I suffered in silence for 10 years, thinking that there was nothing I could do to relieve the pain. Through 'On Course for Better Health,' Dottie and I want to ensure that others affected by IC will not have to endure a similar fate. That's why I'm so grateful to A.F.U.D and ALZA for developing this campaign and to the LPGA for supporting this important endeavor." Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic, painful and potentially debilitating bladder condition that affects approximately 450,000 people in the United States, 90 percent of whom are women. Classic IC symptoms include the urgent and frequent need to urinate, as well as pelvic or bladder pain. Doctors frequently misdiagnose IC as a urinary tract infection and prescribe antibiotics, which prove ineffective. As a result, IC patients can often endure years of pain and frustration and consult numerous physicians before reaching an IC diagnosis. For more information about the "On Course for Better Health" campaign, please call 1-877-ON-COURSE, or visit http://www.oncourseforbetterhealth.com