This year, I’m doing something that I’ve always absolutely loathed. I broke my anti-fundraising rule and have volunteered to raise funds for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Muscle Walk.

From my early childhood days, There haven’t been many things I’ve dreaded more than fundraisers, mostly because I hated asking people to buy whatever overpriced, unneeded trinket that some parent or teacher thought would be a gold mine for whatever activity I was involved with that was in need of some extra greenbacks. My parents usually just wrote a check for whatever amount my quota of whatever was being sold would generate for the cause at hand so I wouldn’t have to deal with annoying my neighbors and fellow church members. Over the years, there have been biscuit kits, pizza kits, Christmas candy, World’s Finest Chocolate, wrapping paper, and several others I’m sure. From an early age, there has been no doubt that I would never be a salesman.

This year, I have the free time and the motivation to put myself out there. So, I’m trying to volunteer more and contribute more of my time and resources, as limited as they may be, to make a difference where I can. My friends and family may get tired of me bugging them for their participation, but the Muscular Dystrophy Association is an organization that has been a great help to me along my journey as well as to countless other individuals and their families.

I’ve been witness to changes over the years in MDA’s ability to provide services as their funding sources have dwindled. Government grants have dried up and many services that they were once able to provide are now gone. They were once able to provide wheelchairs and other assistive aids or free clinic visits to the patients. Now their ability to help is mostly limited to researching the different manifestations of the neuromuscular maladies that fall under the umbrella of muscular dystrophy. I’m thankful for even that contribution as it provides hope to those of us affected, especially those with ALS (Lou Gherig’s Disease), Duchenne Dystrophy, or any of the other diseases that are a death sentence currently. I feel somewhat blessed that the Fascoscapluahumeral (FSH) Dystrophy that I have does not have a fatal outcome. The FSH that I have is just an annoyance, albeit a substantial one.

If you’re new to my blog, here is a link to a series of posts from a while back where, in a somewhat abbreviated manner, I described the progression of my FSH and its effects on me as I grew up.

If you have the financial resources and would like to help me and others diagnosed with one of the forms of muscular dystrophy, please go to my Muscle Walk page and make a monetary contribution to help me reach my fundraising goal. If you aren’t able to contribute financially or would be willing to take it one step further, I need to recruit team members for my team, The Unusual Suspects, to help raise funds to meet the team goal. If you aren’t able to do either, please share this post and remember me and the others affected, as well as the family and friends that are participating in this endeavor, in your thoughts and prayers. I also have information for businesses or organizations that might be interested in a corporate sponsorship and will be happy to share that with anyone upon request.

Please help me do my part to make this event a success in whatever way you can, and come out to the Muscle Walk event at Flowood Park on April 29 at 2:00 p.m. to show your support. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll certainly find out.