This Saturday, June 4th, Kinnucan’s Specialty Outfitters is sponsoring a fundraising event to raise money for the research of muscular dystrophy, ALS and other related muscle-debilitating diseases.
The event is held annually in various towns across the country will and will feature both a 5K race and one-mile walk, which starts at Kinnucan’s on South Donahue Drive in Auburn begininng at 7:30 a.m.
In addition to the 5K and walk, the event will feature inflatables, Aubie, the University cheerleaders, giveaways and much more.
Muscle-debilitating diseases like muscular dystrophy and ALS strip everyday freedoms like walking, dancing, playing and even breathing from kids and adults, and it’s the MDA’s mission to help fund research in order to fight those diseases.
"We serve families in Lee County with muscle-debilitating diseases," said Angie Jordin, the executive director of the event. "We provide flu shots, wheel chairs and leg brace repair, MDA Summer Camp and these families are seen at no cost to them at our MDA Care Clinic at UAB in Birmingham."
Rising Auburn sophomore Dane Block has actively participated in raising money for the fundraiser and hopes to see a huge crowd of all kinds of people coming together for the one common purpose of putting a smile on a kid’s face who suffers from muscular dystrophy.
“Growing up I have seen a few of my family friends suffer from some form of muscular dystrophy,” Block said. “Seeing them go through their daily life, dealing with the extra struggle [muscular dystrophy] brings along, makes me want to do all I can for not only them but the other people who also suffer from the same disease.”
Block and his fraternity Kappa Alpha are nationwide partners with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and when they discovered there was an event coming to Auburn, they wanted to get involved and do all they could to make the fundraiser successful and enjoyable.
“I feel that I’ve gained a sense of humbleness ... from reading up on the disease to seeing people who actually have the disease, it really puts things into perspective,” Block said. “I always forget how blessed I am to be able to operate and move freely on my own. A lot of kids our age don’t get to experience the same freedom we do, and I believe that is something we all need to understand and be thankful for.”
The MDA uses part of the money raised to send local children with various muscular diseases to Camp ASCCA, Alabama’s Special Camp for Children, in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama, where they are able to participate in activities like zip-lining and kayaking.
"Our goal is to have a large turn out and for people to have a good time," Jordin said. "We would love to see this event raise $15,000. It has already raised $12,000, so we just need some more runners to hit the goal."
To register, participants can visit the MDA Muscle Walk website. Registration costs $30, and each participant will receive a Kinnucan’s T-shirt, among other gear.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
