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MDA

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

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Make a muscle, make a difference.

Today’s MDA Muscle Walk in Waco, TX, was nothing short of amazing.

I’m a night owl, so I often joke that I’ve forgotten some of those AM hours even exist. So, having to be an hour away before 10 AM was the one and only aspect of the day I did not look forward to experiencing. At least jokingly so. I don’t mind getting up early for things I care a lot about doing, and supporting MDA and my nephew ranks right up there at the top of that list.

When my alarm buzzed at 7 AM, I slapped it a couple times, wishing for “just five more minutes.” But I’m proud to say I was up before my final, “you better get a move on RIGHT NOW” alarm went off. I even had time to grab a couple bowls of Cheerios before a fast shower and out the door.

My parents and I met my brother and family and some friends at his house, before we all headed towards Waco in a little mini-convoy. We made it to the Baylor Indoor Practice Field with plenty of time to spare.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

Two years ago, we all participated in the Dallas Stride & Ride event at Cowboy’s Stadium. I honestly expected this to be a lot time that event, and while it was… it wasn’t. Oh, the focus was the same — MDA — and the idea of walking and riding around the field was the same, but the mood was just more personal.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

While we had time to visit with others, the event moved quickly and efficiently. MDA provided signs you could personalize with your team name. They took team photos. We had performances from the Baylor Bear Cheerleaders and the LaVega Pirates Cheerleaders. Singer Holly Tucker performed Mariah Carey’s “Hero” — that brought tears to your eyes.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

More importantly, we had people speak on how MDA has helped them and why they were walking today — including my brother, nephew and his other aunt. It just brought everything home even more than before.

Before the actual walk, they had us all do the Cha Cha Slide, which… hilarious and fun.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

Then as the walk started, and you looked around at all the people there for the same cause, it was moving. I felt tears well up many times, and I swallowed them down behind my camera. It was powerful. It gave such HOPE. It was simply incredible.

As the walk drew to an end, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. My nephew snagged a photo with the whole Baylor softball team. And every student that was there volunteering was helpful and friendly.

I’m an Aggie. But… Baylor really impressed me today.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

Today was not about school rivalries (though there was some gentle ribbing by the softball coach that even made me chuckle), it was about MDA. And that was what was SO COOL about it. Race. Religion. School allegiance. What TYPE of Muscular Dystrophy. What is your hometown. None of it mattered. Today we were all together under that roof supporting MDA, and the fight to find a cure.

WOW is all I can say.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

I briefly spoke to the woman in charge of the event. She’d left me a wonderful voice-mail the other day thanking me for supporting Cody, and saying she understood that I live so far away and I’d not make it. I wanted to let her know I was there after all, thank her for her call, and then thank her for all she does for MDA. Instead, she thanked ME. I told her that even if I wasn’t here already, this is an event I’d fly back to attend. It was THAT powerful.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to my supporters and donors. Our team came in second place in fundraising, behind the LaVega Pirates, and you actually made me one of the top participants (#7!)!

I seriously can not thank you all enough… from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your support of MDA.

2012 Waco MDA Muscle Walk

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.