Are you a distance runner who has benefitted from medical technology? Medtronic wants you… to run as a Global Hero.

Once again, the Fridley-based medical technology giant is sponsoring its Global Heroes team and will select up to 25 runners, who will receive a paid entry for themselves and a guest to the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. They will also receive airfare and accommodations for the Global Hero and a guest.

The 2014 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will take place October 3-5, 2014. Since 2006, 184 runners representing 27 different countries and a myriad of chronic and degenerative disease conditions have run the beautiful course that winds through the lakes and neighborhoods of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Applications and information for the 2014 Medtronic Global Hero team are available at medtronic.com/globalheroes. The application deadline is April 25, 2014.

To qualify as a Global Hero, runners must currently be using a medical device therapy to treat the following disease categories: heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain, spinal disorders, or neurological, gastroenterology and urological disorders. Eligible medical devices include any pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), any spinal device, any neurological device, any insulin pump, or any heart valve. The device does not have to have been made by Medtronic.

Runners will be chosen by a committee of Twin Cities In Motion. Certain conditions may apply and applicants must certify that they have discussed race participation with their physician.