MDA to have benefit for local families

[JUNE 11, 2005]  Local prominent citizens are being accused of "having a big heart for Jerry's Kids." They're volunteering to be "arrested and serve time" in a mock jail at Einstein's Louisiana CoffeeHouse on June 15 in an effort to raise money for the local Muscular Dystrophy Association. Local firefighters will be picking up the "jailbirds" in cars provided by J&S Auto.

Each volunteer has been sentenced to "raise bail" by calling friends and business associates encouraging contributions. Bail has been set at $600 each, which will send one child to MDA summer camp.

Several local businesses are supporting the community event. Nearly 100 volunteers from Lincoln are community and business leaders expected to serve their sentence "behind bars" for MDA. A few VIPs are representatives from Graue Chevrolet Buick Oldsmobile, AMP Studio, Integrity Data, Elks County Club, Burger King, Family Medical Center, ReMax, New Wine Fellowship, Logan County Board, Walgreens and Weyerhaeuser.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. In addition to funding groundbreaking research, MDA provides individuals affected by muscle-degenerating diseases with wheelchair and leg brace assistance, clinics located at the Koke Mill Medical Center in Springfield, support groups and summer camp for younger patients.

MDA is the first nonprofit recognized by the American Medical Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity."

Anyone interested in planning or participating in an MDA event can contact Cynthia McGill at [phone].

[News release provided by Cynthia McGill, program director, Muscular Dystrophy Association]