AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons and American Red Cross - Southeastern Michigan Chapter will honor Mark Honeyman of Rochester Hills with The Detroit Pistons and American Red Cross Michigan Heroes Award. On March 18, Honeyman will be recognized on The Palace court at halftime of the Pistons’ 3:30 p.m. game against the Dallas Mavericks. Art Espey, Vice Chair of the Board from the American Red Cross - Southeastern Michigan Chapter and WNBA Champion Detroit Shock guard Elaine Powell will honor Honeyman with a Michigan Heroes medal at center court for his ability to inspire today’s youth to further their education and be an extraordinary educator despite a unique disease – called Essential Tremors – that affects his ability to perform certain tasks.

Honeyman, an 8th grade teacher at West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield, was nominated by current West Hills 8th grader Rachel Pad. According to his students, he has an extraordinary passion about his job, even though his unique illness may slightly hinder his abilities. Honeyman suffers from a unique disease that affects his ability to do things like write, shave, eat and grade papers. When Honeyman was 14 years old, he started to notice that his hands shake. He just thought it was nervousness. As he got older, other parts of his body would shake. The shakiness would become more intense when his emotions ran high. When Honeyman – now in his mid 40’s – was about 31 years old, he went to the doctor to find out what was wrong. After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with Essential Tremors, which is often mistaken for Parkinsons – and most people who develop Essential Tremors don’t do so until their 50s and 60s. In addition to experiencing extremely early symptoms, Honeyman has one of the severe types of Essential Tremors. Although he knows that his tremors are going to get in the way of him doing simple tasks, his students admire him for being able to have such a positive outlook on his life despite his illness.

“Mr. Honeyman is my hero because he has faith in his students,” said Pad. He knows that we can change the world if we try. When I am older, I hope I can change the world and go into some type of writing career. I am so lucky to have Mr. Honeyman as an inspiration, a Language Arts teacher, a choir teacher and a trusted role model. Mr. Honeyman has changed my life in so many ways, more then he will ever know. He is my hero.”

In its third year, the Detroit Pistons and American Red Cross Michigan Heroes Program encourages fans to nominate a person or group from their local community who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and recognize their accomplishments at a Pistons home game during the 2006-2007 season.

To nominate a hero, who can come from any walk of life, fans only need to complete an on-line nomination form at www.pistons.com, or send name(s), address, phone number and name of school or organization to:

“Detroit Pistons and American Red Cross Michigan Heroes” The Palace of Auburn Hills -- Five Championship Drive -- Auburn Hills, MI 48326

All nominators will be entered for the chance to win an autographed 8x10 Pistons starter photo

Only one entry per person per email address per household will be accepted. Please see www.pistons.com for a complete list of rules/regulations and additional information. For more information on the Pistons Honor Michigan Heroes program or to purchase tickets for any upcoming home game, please contact The Palace at (248) 377-0100 or visit www.pistons.com.