Business and Community Leaders To 'Do A Little Time' At MDA Lock-Up

News from the Muscular Dystrophy Association:

Business and community leaders from the Santa Rosa area will “do a little time and a lot of good” to help save and improve the lives of people fighting muscular dystrophy and related life-threatening diseases at the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Lock-Up fundraising event. Business and community leaders have volunteered to “go behind bars” as part of MDA’s Lock-Up event on July 16th at La Rosa Tequileria and Grille at 500 4th Street Santa Rosa, CA 95401.

During the event, participants — “Jailbirds” — will be locked up for one hour as they attempt to raise “bail” by encouraging friends, family, and co-workers to make a contribution to directly benefit MDA families in the Santa Rosa area.

“MDA’s Lock-Up theme helps illustrate what a serious problem neuromuscular disease is and why we need to do something about it now. Jailbirds only lose their freedom for one hour, but for children and adults fighting muscle disease, the loss of mobility and the challenges that result when muscles stop working are progressive and permanent,” said Executive Director, PJ Smith, “It is thanks to the support from our Lock-Up participants and generosity from community members that we will raise critical funds and awareness to help families who live with these debilitating effects live stronger, longer lives.”

In 2014 the Santa Rosa community rallied behind this event and raised over $52,000. So far in 2015, almost $3000 has been raised and with close to a month left for “jailbirds” to raise bail – that is a solid start. Funds raised through Lock-Up donations help MDA create a world free from the harmful effects of muscle diseases that often take away people’s ability to walk, move, talk, smile and even breathe.

Dollars raised also help support MDA’s life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support groups and clinics, including the MDA Clinics at Stanford, California Pacific Medical Center at Forbes Norris, and UCSF. They also make MDA summer camp possible so kids with muscle disease can enjoy “the best week of the year” at Westminster Woods in Occidental, CA and nearly 80 other locations nationwide.

To learn more about the MDA Lock-Up program and how to get involved, contact Fundraising Coordinator, Sara Boring, at 415-673-7500 or sboring@mdausa.org, or visit www.mdalockup.org/SantaRosa2015.

About MDA
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to saving and improving the lives of people with muscle disease, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. Visit mda.org and follow at facebook.com/mdasanfrancisco.