New location, hope for MDA walk

With a new, smoother path, the fourth annual ERA Stride & Ride Muscular Dystrophy walk on Feb. 28 is expected to raise additional money when they relocate to West Wetlands Park this year.
 
Last year 80 walkers raised $15,000 for research and supported summer camp for youngsters afflicted by more than 43 types of neuromuscular diseases known as muscular dystrophy.
 
"Of course, we're going for more and we're hoping it's going to be bigger and better than ever since it's the first at West Wetlands," Barbara Noel-Williams, program coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Phoenix, said. 
 
Teams of walkers are targeting sponsorships  that can help send children to summer camp in Heber that costs $800 per child, yet sponsorships of any size are welcome Noel-Williams stressed. Last year, they were able to send 98 children to camp.
 
"We do a remarkable job of providing help for today and hope for tomorrow," Noel-Williams said.
 
Teams should register as soon as possible, but they can register the day of the walk at 8 a.m., while the walk begins at 8:45 a.m. at 2200 Water Street. To register, teams can contact Noel-Williams at bwilliams@mdausa.org or telephone 480-753-9084.
 
The Yuma Fire Department will have one of their fire station trucks on display, while Starbucks of Yuma is donating coffee and the Kofa High School jazz band will perform under the direction of Jesse Schattin.
 
Another contributor includes Kohl's Department Store, which is sponsoring a team for $500. The "presenting sponsor" contributing $2,500 is the ERA Fischer Realty. Fischer broker Michael Hall said they hope to make $25,000 this year.
 
"The big thing is the day camp because it provides families who have kids stricken with muscular dystrophy some time off because they usually have to provide 24/7 chronic care," Hall said. "And when you look at some of the individual stories of afflicted children it can be a heartbreaker."
 
Hall added that because the route is more pedestrian-friendly they hope to see as many people as possible this year.
 
One of those who formed a walk team is Jenni Beck, who will be again walking with sisters Jessica Workman and Janna Baker and six others. Last year Beck's team raised $2,800, which they said they want to top this year. Previous sponsors include: W. J. Anderson Construction, Morris Ag Air, Weddle Farm, and Sprague's Sports.
 
Beck and her sisters walk in honor of their mother, Karleen Hammons, who has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis that weakens all the muscles of the body, including facial muscles.
 
"That's how we found out she had muscular dystrophy," Beck said. "She had a tumor in her thymus gland and she got droopy eye and had trouble swallowing." Hammons must now take monthly immunoglobulin treatments at Yuma Regional Medical Center, Beck said.
 
Two years ago, Hammons was advised to leave her job in retail in which she was on her feet all day. Her illness would weaken her immune system, and because of her heavy public contact, would make her more vulnerable to the flu.
 
Although Hammons is not wheelchair-bound she must sometimes use a wheelchair and especially misses sharing activities with any of her seven grandchildren as her illness sometimes makes even holding them difficult.
 
Beck's stepfather Mark Hammons does most of the housekeeping and errands, and Beck said her mother feels lucky to have him.
 
Beck offered to provide any interested participants with team packets if they telephone her at 580-2003.
 
"The money raised stays here in Arizona," Beck said. "You never know when somebody in your family might be diagnosed with a chronic illness. And yet we actually have fun doing the walk."