Category Archives: MDA

MDA

Coming up: MDA Muscle Walk

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Make a muscle, make a difference.

That’s the motto of MDA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I write about MDA regularly here, and with good reason! My nephew has Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.

Long-time readers and anyone close to me in person knows this fact, but for any new readers or any hit-and-run readers, this is probably news to you. So to save myself the finger pain, and to save those who have heard it time, a few quick past-post reads to catch you up.

* What do you know about Muscular Dystrophy?

* When to give. Why to give.

* Weekly Winners (Jan. 24 – 30) — From 2010’s Stride & Ride

* Labor Day Weekend = MDA Telethon

On February 4th, I’m participating in the next big fundraiser for MDA with my family. The Waco MDA Chapter is holding their Stride and Ride at Baylor University. I’m happy about the event, but not about the location. But, I promise not to be one of those people who decks out in A&M gear from head-to-toe just to prove some sort of point. Whatever that may be. It’s about MDA. And the great work that they do.

Okay, so I might do this:

Ha!

Anyway, I had hoped to raise a lot more money for this from my end, but its like a friend said the other night, you can only go to the well so many times. My Nashville Family has been raising money for some of our members, and funds are tight as it is. So I’ve been a bad team member and not raised much money. Insert sad face here.

I do have a page where people can donate, should any of my readers care to sponsor me for a few dollars. Every dollar, five or ten does help.

My nephew is doing amazing, all things considered. When he was diagnosed so many years ago now, we all went through those stages of denial, anger, fear and finally acceptance. But what MDA never made anyone accept is “the status quo.”  They made it no longer about, “Oh hey, here’s what’s going on. Deal with it.” It was all about, “Here’s what’s going on, and here is how we are not only going to help you to handle it, but we’re going to help you realize there is ALWAYS hope. Because we’re making great strides in medicines and procedures, etc. that could one day cure your loved one.”

Those strides are thanks to donations from others. Donations raised during these special events. Donations raised during the Labor Day Telethon. Donations raised on street corners in small town America during bake sales, but because people care.

If anyone would like to sponsor me and donate to our team, awesome. And I thank you in advance. We all thank you. And if you can’t, I understand and thank you for listening.

MDA

Labor Day Weekend = MDA Telethon

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As everyone gets ready for a long weekend to enjoy one last hurrah of summer fun, thousands of people are gearing up for the MDA Telethon. This year’s telethon, however, will be very different from year’s past.

From an MDA press release: The 46th annual MDA Labor Day Telethon is getting ready to squeeze 21½ hours of entertainment, awareness-building and fundraising into six prime-time hours on Sunday night, Sept. 4.

Not only is the telethon shorter, but its not ON Labor Day, and it also will NOT be hosted by Jerry Lewis, an absence that will be impossible to miss. “Jerry’s Kids” have looked to him to help raise money for their care for decades. His dedication and love to MDA has been infectious, and he’s successfully raised over $2 billion in his years at the helm. The reason for his absence is not known. It may never be known.

I pray, though, that these changes do not result in a lack of donations. The telethon will be broadcast by more than 150 television stations across the country, and nearly 40 million people are expected to watch. 40 MILLION people. If every viewer gave only $10, that would be $400 million raised. That’s pushing it, I know, but I can dream.

Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Martina McBride, Steven Tyler, Jon Secada, Randy Jackson and Richie Sambora are all scheduled to make appearances during the telethon.  Nigel Lythgoe (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Nancy O’Dell (“Entertainment Tonight”), Jann Carl (journalist) and Alison Sweeney (“The Biggest Loser”) are this year’s hosts.

Cody, my nephew, battles Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

My nephew will be featured on the Waco, TX station showing the telethon (KXXV Channel 25.) He’s appeared on the telethon the last several years, urging the people of Central Texas to give… he himself is an example of the good MDA has done in this world.

I’ve talked about my nephew and his battle with Muscular Dystrophy a several times in this blog. Specific posts include:

My nephew is in 8th grade today… he’s growing up fast. He recently participated in an experimental drug study in Ohio, a drug that could potentially help him walk again some day. More importantly, it could lengthen his life.

He flew for the first time to go to this study. He went through tests that included injections into his stomach… when people commented to him on Facebook that he is brave, he responded simply, “not really:)”

Despite his limitations due to muscular dystrophy, he doesn’t let life pass him by… he worked some at my parents business this past summer, he takes PE (figuring out how to slide in his wheelchair while playing dodge ball), is part of the student counsel, and (if I remember hearing correctly) is a trainer for the football team this year. He plays saxophone in the band, and he’s helping his dad rebuild a 1993 Ford Mustang.

A huge part of his being able to be so active is thanks to the work of MDA.

Directly from the MDA website, some of their services:

MDA sends some 3,500 youngsters with muscular dystrophy to accessible MDA summer camps each year, at a cost to MDA of $800 per camper. There’s no charge to families.

 Tens of thousands of people visit MDA’s nationwide network of some 200 clinics and 38 MDA/ALS centers every year.

 MDA awards research grants to more than 330 teams of scientists and physicians worldwide.

 The Association also:

  • assists with the cost of repairs to all types of durable medical equipment for those it serves;
  • facilitates meetings of more than 240 support groups around the nation;
  • provides thousands of free flu vaccines;
  • provides annual occupational, physical, respiratory or speech therapy consultations
  • offers advocacy and community outreach;
  • provides online support services through the e-community myMDA and myMuscleTeam, a program that helps recruit and coordinate in-home help;
  • conducts extensive public education programs; and
  • publishes current, accurate and easy-to-understand information about research, health care and daily living with neuromuscular disease via two national magazines, numerous booklets and guides, and online at mda.org.

MDA does wonderful things, and I always urge people to donate. If you’re interested in tuning in this Sunday, check your local listings or find your station on this pdf from MDA.

And thank you in advance… from the deepest places of my heart, thank you.