BRAVE Awards Recipients Announced

Dublin (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Fifteen everyday heroes who selflessly care for others in the
face of adversity honored by Shire in annual international awards
program

They inspire with their determination, selflessness, courage and
hope. Fifteen caregivers from around the world have been announced
today as Recipients or Distinguished Honorees in the 2nd Annual Shire
BRAVE Awards, an international program that honors the bravery and
devotion of non-professional caregivers. Launched by Shire in 2011,
the BRAVE Awards are the first and only initiative of its kind and
are designed to celebrate the amazing commitment of unsung everyday
heroes - caregivers - who provide consistent and dedicated care for
others.

"Our BRAVE Award winners represent the invisible army of millions
of family caregivers, many of whom balance a job, household tasks and
the intense medical needs of another person, and in many case,
several people," said Angus Russell, Shire Chief Executive Officer.
"Their consistent care of others is an enormously generous way to
live their life, and we at Shire are privileged to recognize these
individuals who bravely overcome unimaginable obstacles and work
tirelessly to give their loved ones as normal and healthy a life as
possible."

Shire received more than 550 nominations for the 2012 BRAVE
Awards from 10 countries over the 15 week nomination period. The
nominations were reviewed and ranked by the BRAVE Awards Selection
Committee, including select Shire employees from around the world and
two external and independent experts in the area of caregiving. The
experts who supported the selection process for 2012 were Frank
Goodwin, Secretary of EuroCarers, the European association that works
on behalf of unpaid caregivers; and Gary Barg, Founder and Editor in
Chief of Today's Caregiver and author of The Fearless Caregiver.

"The BRAVE Awards is a unique international program that not only
recognizes these specific carers but which also importantly raises
awareness of the role non-professional caregivers play in our society
everyday," said Mr. Goodwin.

Nominations were ranked based on the qualities that define
Shire's own BRAVE culture: respect, courage, dedication, impact and
patience. Shire's 5,200 global employees helped to select the
Recipients and Distinguished Honorees from the pool of eligible
finalists. The ten Recipients of a 2012 BRAVE Award each will receive
$10,000 USD or the local currency equivalent, and the five
Distinguished Honorees will each be awarded $2,500 USD or the local
currency equivalent.

"Providing resources and support for caregivers is a constant
focus for those of us who serve these dedicated healthcare heroes.
This unique awards initiative recognizes and celebrates family
caregivers who fearlessly advocate for the wellbeing of their loved
ones, often drawing strength and spirit from the very people for whom
they care," said Mr. Barg.

To read more about and hear from each of the 2012 BRAVE Awards
Recipients and Distinguished Honorees, visit
http://www.ShireBRAVEAwards.com

2012 BRAVE AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

Brian Burke (Santa Rosa, CA): Thanks to Brian's love, support and
care, his wife Kate, who was diagnosed with a stage IV brain tumor,
breast cancer and suffered a severe stroke, has beaten the odds,
living well beyond her prognosis and providing hope for countless
cancer and stroke survivors.

Carmen Carrasco Lobato (Malaga, Spain): Carmen a mother of five,
has dedicated more than 43 years of her life to care for her three
sons and recently, a family friend, all of who were born with serious
development disabilities. She goes well above and beyond the role of
mother and friend.

Patsy Fleckenstein (Baltimore, MD): For nearly two decades, Patsy
has served as the inspiring matriarch of her family, caring full-time
for her two grown children (and their four kids) after separate car
accidents left them both paralyzed from the neck down.

Debra Frain (Cheektowaga, NY): Thanks to Debra's tireless
devotion and refusal to give up, her 21-year-old son Matt, who
suffers from a rare neuromuscular disease and is confined to a
wheelchair, is halfway through college, having lived well past the 12
months that doctors originally forecasted.

Randall Gregory (Beverly, MA): After Randall's wife Nicole
suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed from the neck down just one
year into their marriage, he has provided constant emotional,
physical and financial support for the woman he calls his wife and
best friend, striving daily to give Nicole as normal a life as
possible.

Carol Harmer (Wagga Wagga, Australia): Carol is a full-time
mother and full-time caregiver for her three children, two of whom
have Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) and are fully dependent for basic
needs. She also finds time to be an advocate, helping raise awareness
about children with special needs.

Raul Navarro (Corona, CA): Raul has served as his wife Mary's
24/7 caregiver for nearly 25 years despite his own battle with
cancer, trading in his well-paying job to help her through two bouts
of thyroid cancer, seizures and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Mary Pizzurro (Tampa, FL): Mary has spent the past 21 years
caring for her four children, two of whom suffer from giant axonal
neuropathy (GAN), a disease with no cure that causes Michael and
Joseph to use power wheelchairs, feeding tubes and tracheotomies. She
is also pursuing a nursing degree, inspiring her two daughters to
follow in her footsteps.

Chelsea Scheiber (Rio Oso, CA): By refocusing her career and
relocating to care for her younger brother and best friend Travis,
who has Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD), Chelsea is the very
definition of a selfless sister.

Otis Williams (Jackson, MS): A family hero, Otis works evenings
so he can take care of his family full-time when they're awake. His
wife Michelle and two of their three children have
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a form of muscular dystrophy.

2012 BRAVE AWARDS DISTINGUISHED HONOREES:

William Dent (Oakland, CA): Around-the-clock, 70-year-old Bill
selflessly cares for his son Darren, who has Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS) and relies on a feeding tube and ventilator, all the
while striving to put a smile on Darren's face each day, as he knows
laughter can be the best medicine.

Mark Jubinville (Chicopee, MA): For 30 years, Mark has selflessly
fought for his wife Lori after she had a stroke during pregnancy and
three subsequent strokes that left her paralyzed on her left side. He
also researched a potential solution to prevent future strokes, all
the while raising their son.

Catherine O'Hare (Birmingham, AL): Catherine's extraordinary
level of passion, humility and commitment to her 18-year-old daughter
Amelia, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as a
one-year-old, has allowed Amelia to live a rich and fulfilling life,
even though she cannot stand or walk.

Daniel Steckman (Holyoke, CO): A great father and loving husband,
Dan is the primary caregiver for his son Jeremy, who suffers from
muscular dystrophy, and serves as the household leader, as his wife
received a heart transplant and has health restrictions.

Mary Sweeney (Willis, TX): Mary's husband Bill, who suffers from
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and cannot walk or speak, has
learned to use an eye-gaze computer to communicate and does more than
many able-bodied men thanks to her endless care, love and
encouragement over the past 15 years.

The Shire BRAVE Awards are presented in the spirit of Shire's
BRAVE culture, which fosters an environment that encourages its
employees and partners to act with integrity; create innovative
solutions that make a difference; act on the needs of others; strive
to be better every day; and to exemplify trust and openness through
teamwork. Nominations for the 2013 Shire BRAVE Awards are expected to
be open on or about March 15, 2013.

Notes to editors

About the Shire BRAVE Awards

The Shire BRAVE Awards is an international program created by
Shire to honor the courage and dedication of individual caregivers.
For the Shire Brave Awards, a caregiver is defined as an individual
who is providing regular, consistent care for another person(s). The
caregiver cannot be a professional healthcare provider and cannot be
compensated in any formal way through their efforts as a caregiver.
The caregiver can be a relative, neighbor, or friend who gives their
time, support, and compassion regularly, helping another person(s)
who is (partly or wholly) unable to care for themselves due to health
issues, injury, or other extenuating circumstance. For further
information on the Shire BRAVE Awards, including official rules,
legal disclosures, and privacy policy please visit
http://www.ShireBRAVEAwards.com.

SHIRE PLC

Shire enables people with life-altering conditions to lead better
lives.

Through our deep understanding of patients' needs, we develop and
provide healthcare in the areas of:

- Behavioral Health and Gastro Intestinal conditions
- Rare Diseases
- Regenerative Medicine

as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialist
physicians.

We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating
value for patients, physicians, policymakers, payors and our
shareholders.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's
website: http://www.shire.com.

For further information please contact:
Matthew Cabrey mcabrey@shire.com, +1-484-595-8248
Beverly Volpe bvolpe@simonpr.com, +1-215-545-4715 x24
Jessica Mann jmann@shire.com, +44-1256-894-280

ots Originaltext: Shire Pharmaceuticals Group Plc
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