<\/p>\n
Debilitating diseases, like the 41 afflictions associated with muscular dystrophy, are overwhelming for the victim and their family.<\/p>\n
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) works hard to ease the pain through a creative fundraising campaign that helps pay for family and patient services.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, 25 volunteers were \u201carrested and jailed\u201d at the Cortez Fire District garage as part of the MDA Lock Up fundraiser.<\/p>\n
Stuck in the slammer wearing the requisite striped uniform, prisoners \u2013 including this reporter \u2013 worked the phones and social media to try and raise $1,600 in bail from friends, acquaintances and coworkers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt all goes to local families to help pay for their needs fighting this disease,\u201d said Kendall Montagriff, MDA\u2019s executive director for the Grand Junction office. \u201cThe Lock Up was an idea we came up with 30 years ago, and it really took off.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are 18 families in Montezuma County that have a loved one suffering from muscular dystrophy, she said.<\/p>\n
Funds raised will help pay for wheelchairs, leg braces, doctor visits, support groups, and for kids to attend a week-long summer camping trip in Empire, Colorado.<\/p>\n
The camping trip is especially important, says the Coppinger family of Bayfield. Their son Mike, 13, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy shortly after birth.<\/p>\n
MDA\u2019s free medical services are crucial to his long-term care, the family said, but the organized summer camp catered to kids with disabilities is his favorite time of year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to make friends that are just like me because they understand,\u201d Mike said of the camping trip, which features fishing, zip-lining, and traveling on wheel-chair accessible trails.<\/p>\n
The MDA\u2019s Grand Junction office hosts nine Lock Up events per year in towns on the Western Slope. Last year, the office raised $400,000 to help families struggling with the disease.<\/p>\n
Montagriff said there have been significant advances in treatment of the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been big breakthroughs, particularly for ALS,\u201d she said. \u201cNew treatments are allowing kids to continue walking later and later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bringing together community members to fundraise side by side is inspiring, said volunteer Jessica Sutherland, who works for Re-1 transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unique because it pushes your comfort zone a bit, and motivates you to reach out and get your friends to donate,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen what families with the disease have to go through, all the surgeries and heartbreak, it makes you tap into the humanity side of life and do what you can to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
To learn more about muscular dystrophy go to http:\/\/www.mda.org\/office\/grand-junction, and to donate to help families in Montezuma County with loved ones suffering from the disease, go to http:\/\/bit.ly\/1KWl3dV to make a safe online contribution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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