Letter to the Editor: Jailbird bail funds muscular disease work

Jerry W. Bear

Posted online September 14, 2008 | 11:00 pm

The Greater Ozarks Area Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association is truly grateful to the people of Greene County for their support of the MDA Lock-Up held Aug. 26 at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. This was a truly amazing year with 464 jailbirds participating to raise nearly $150,000.

We had 128 “bail-makers” raise at least $500.

We thank Bass Pro Shops for providing us an excellent location to hold this event. We also thank KOLR 10 for their great hospitality.

The Greater Ozarks Area Chapter of the MDA benefits more than 750 families in the Ozarks affected by one of the 43 neuromuscular diseases covered under the association’s programs. Services include assistance with the purchase of wheelchairs, braces and communication devices, a free summer camp for kids ages 6 to 21 at Bear River Ranch in Rolla, free medical clinics at St. John’s Regional Health Center, and research being conducted at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri-Columbia. All of MDA’s services are provided free of charge.

We recognized this great effort on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, which raised another $65 million. On behalf of all those MDA can serve because of our community, we sincerely thank you!

—Jerry W. Bear, MDA district director[[In-content Ad]]