Toronto Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassadors!

MEET THE MCCAINS!

Mark, Mary, Hunter and Darcy McCain became involved with the Toronto Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Planning Committee this year after attending the event for the first time last fall. "We feel very strongly about raising awareness of and support for this horrible disease," Mary explains. Family, friends, and the community immediately responded and rallied around the McCains, making Team Darcy one of the top fundraising teams in all of Ontario in 2010.

Mark and Mary's son, Darcy, was diagnosed with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy at the age of four, a discovery that has brought the McCain family together to share their experience and raise funds to support the Toronto Walk for Muscular Dystrophy, as well as Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Beyond the Toronto event, the McCains are organizing a walkathon at Darcy's school, Kew Beach Public School, to help raise awareness and support even further.

For the McCain family, the Toronto Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is about more than just raising money to support those living with neuromuscular disorders, it is also about the community joining together to support each other. "On an emotional level, it is such an incredible feeling to know that we have a team of people who love and care so much for our family. There is no price on that."

Thank you, McCain family, for being this year's Toronto Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassadors!

Together, we will make muscles move!

Move It - Summer Edition

Have you seen the July/August edition of Move It!? Muscular Dystrophy Canada's online newsletter is featuring stories on walk ambassadors from all over the country as well as a story on a fashion show event that raised funds for the York Region Walk.

It also has a new comic strip and many other interesting articles. Check it out by clicking here!

Congratulations Kingston!

The weather may not have been perfect, but the Kingston walk was full of fun on Saturday June 25! It was only the 2nd year, but already the walk in Kingston has started to grow thanks to word of mouth and some very dedicated volunteer committee members. Raising over $4,700, we hope the Kingston walk is even bigger and better next year! Here are some photos from that great day - for more check out our Muscular Dystrophy Canada Flickr page.

Up next is the Toronto walk for Muscular Dystrophy in September! You can visit www.muscle.ca/walk for more details on how to get involved or donate today!



 

Meet Your Kingston Ambassador!

MEET AARON BOMBARD!


Aaron became involved with the Kingston Walk for Muscular Dystrophy this past fall and has become a vital member of the volunteer planning committee. Aaron was eager to get involved as it is “an opportunity to give something back and to help raise funds” for those affected by neuromuscular disorders.



Aaron was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of five. Shortly before transitioning into a power wheelchair at 12 years old, Aaron and his family reached out to Muscular Dystrophy Canada for support.

Aaron has embraced his challenges and has dedicated himself to bringing awareness to accessibility and other facilitative efforts in the community. He currently volunteers with the Occupational Therapy Department at Queen University to provide life experiences and a personal perspective that “does not coming from a textbook”. The goal is to “provide a positive view of disability” Aaron describes. “I have a disability but it doesn’t define me.”

For Aaron, the Kingston Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is not only an opportunity to raise money and awareness, but to help those in the community who also have muscular dystrophy. “It helps to know there are others who are going through the same things. It’s a chance to meet and help one another.”

Thank you Aaron for being this year’s Kingston Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassador! There is still time to sign up and walk with us at this Saturday's Kingson Walk. Visit www.muscle.ca/walk for more information, to join in or to make a donation!

Congratulations London and Waterloo!

Another weekend of walks down and two amazing walks they were! Both coming in over goal and both with more participants than last year!! The lovely weather only added to the wonderful day had by many. A big thank you goes out to the Volunteer Walk Planning Committees, participants, donors and event day volunteers - together we help make muscles move!


There is still time for you to donate to these great events, or sign up / donate to up coming events by visiting www.muscle.ca/walk . You can find more great pictures of the London Walk on our Flickr site!

Meet Your London Ambassador!

This Saturday June 18, the London Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is taking place. It's a chance to join you community and raise money for a great cause. You can even meet the London ambassador Patti!



Patti MacNeil has been involved with the London Walk for Muscular Dystrophy since its inception three years ago when Muscular Dystrophy Canada Board Member, Ronald Nicol, reccommeded her to the planning committee. Patti recalls “I was more than interested [to get involved]and a little nervous at first as I had never been involved with organizing an event before. It has been a great learning experience and very rewarding.”


Patti takes every opportunity to talk about her involvement with Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the London Walk. “2010 was my second year [participating in] the walk. With open talks and communication with members of my team I was able to share my experiences. Instantly I had 3 people who wanted to get involved and volunteer their time. They were all there the day of the walk pitching in and at the end of the day the 3 of them said ‘make sure you sign me up for next year.’”

Believing that the walk helps the London community by spreading awareness of neromuscular disorders and those in the area that are affected by them, Patti says she has many fond memories of participating in the family friendly event year after year. "The community working together, building friendships, seeing familiar faces, and the smiles on the children’s faces are all reasons I love being a part of this event and are what make it such a great day”, Patti says.

We are so happy to have Patti on the planning committee again this year and to have her as our first London Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassador!

Can't make it out to the walk? You can still donate and support Muscular Dystrophy Canada by visiting www.mucsle.ca/walk and selecting your local walk. Together we make muscles move!

Meet Your Waterloo Ambassador!

MEET BERNARDO RECINE!




Bernardo first became involved with Muscular Dystrophy Canada after registering as a client in 1996. He wanted to know how to keep up to date with muscular dystrophy issues and was pointed in the direction of Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Bernardo wanted to bring awareness and visibility to the cause and disorders and wanted to be involved. He was extremely happy to get the call in December 2009 to help organize the first Waterloo Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy.

When asked about how the Walk event benefits the community, Bernardo commented “The Walk benefits the community as it creates awareness that Muscular Dystrophy is in fact part of our community, that we start putting faces to the cause within the community, and that there are individuals that need our support or will need our support in the future.”

As the Waterloo Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is still a new event, Bernardo is excited about brainstorming different ways to promote the event with the Waterloo Region Volunteer Planning Committee and to expand the event. He is very proud to be the Chair Person for the Waterloo Region Planning Committee and is thrilled to be this year’s Waterloo Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassador.

Thank you to Bernardo for his continued dedication and support.


You can help Bernardo and Muscular Dystrophy Canada make muscles move by visiting www.muscle.ca/walk to donate or join the walk! Or you can just show up to Waterloo Park on Saturday June 18 at 10 am to register. We hope to see you there!