Turner Field Plays Host to Inspirational MDA of Atlanta Event

Atlanta Families Pay Tribute, Raise Funds During 3^rd Annual Muscle Walk

What: Sabrina Hughes, Divisional Director East Central States for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is working with dozens of local sponsors and families to execute the third annual MDA Atlanta Muscle Walk to help pay tribute to – and raise funds for – children and adults served by the MDA in the Atlanta area.   More than 1,500 people will gather at Turner Field this Saturday to participate in the walk that will include an awards ceremony, victory lap around the warning track and free lunch catered by BLIMPIE.

Why: Thousands of Atlanta residents suffering from muscular dystrophy are served by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the nation’s largest non-profit health agency dedicated to during muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research.  The MDA Muscle Walk series is one of the most, if not the most, important annual fundraiser supporting the MDA’s advocacy, education and comprehensive health care and support services.   Last year alone, MDA Muscle Walks nationwide raised more than $6.2 million, and more than $10 million has been raised since the program started in 2011.

Who’s Walkin’ and Rollin’: Each MDA Muscle Walk produces a powerful spectacle.   Dozens of people flock to walk and support friends and family members affected by neuromuscular diseases.   Hundreds of sufferers successfully navigate the course in electronic wheelchairs flanked by their loved ones.   This year, the Atlanta MDA Muscle Walk anticipates more than 1,500 participants to complete the race and victory lap at Turner Field.

Interview/Visual Opportunity: Paul Gwin, the Atlanta-based Blimpie owner providing food for the event, will be there with more than a dozen family members supporting his son, Skylar, who suffers from muscular dystrophy.   Paul and Skylar have been big supporters of the MDA Muscle Walk since its inception and would be excellent resources to speak with about the impact the MDA has on their lives.

Where: Turner Field (address - 55 Hank Aaron Dr SE Atlanta, GA 30315).  The walk itself will be conducted in the concourse inside the stadium that leads fans to their seats.   All participants will start and end the race at monument grove adjacent the Grand Entry Plaza.

When: Saturday, March 23, 2013.
           

Schedule of Events:

8:30am Registration

9:30am Warm Up/Instructions

10:00am MDA Muscle Walk/Victory Laps around Turner Field

11:30am Lunch and Awards ceremony

12:00pm Event Concludes

Cost: Any and all donations to the MDA are welcome.   Participation is free, however participants who raise $100 or more receive a complimentary MDA Muscle Walk t-shirt.

General Information MDA Muscle Walk is a series of fun, non-competitive local walks held across the country, and it’s the largest event of its kind in the United States.   There are more than 160 walks throughout the nation, with events scheduled from January to April. 

For more information on the Atlanta MDA Muscle Walk, please visit: http://www.musclewalkmda.org/atlanta2013

Questions? Please contact…

Sabrina Hughes, 770.621.9800, shughes@mdausa.org

Graham Chapman, 919.459.8157, gchapman@919marketing.com