Over $34,000 was Donated to the MDA by Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, and Town and Country Market

October 27, 2015 was a special day at the Strack & Van Til headquarters. Three young men and their families were invited to represent the Muscular Dystrophy Association and receive a donation on the nonprofit's behalf of $34,786.08 from Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, and Town and Country Market.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a nonprofit organization that, through funding worldwide research, is dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS, and other related diseases. The money donated from Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, and Town and Country Market will send 43 kids with different forms of muscle diseases to a special summer camp.

Before the check presentation, each boy spoke a bit on what the MDA has done for them and what they have gotten from going to these summer camps.

“The MDA loaned me a wheelchair for almost a full year before one was approved for me under my mom’s insurance,” Connor McLeod said. “I like going to camp because I like being around other kids who understand disabilities.”

“I’ve been going to MDA camp for many years now,” Dominick Servi said. “It gives kids like me a chance to experience camp like other kids can.”

“The funds that the MDA raises for research to me is wonderful,” Dominick’s dad, Dick, added. “Just knowing that the dollars are going into the search for a cure or at least something that will make life easier for our boys warms my heart. So we thank you for your help.”

“Camp is really fun. I’ve been going for about eight years now,” Haitham Zitiani said. “The counselors are easy to get along with and there is lots to do. I like to hang out with other kids who have muscular dystrophy like me, we all understand each other and we understand what the others go through.”

It costs approximately $800 to send one child to MDA summer camp. At camp, kids with different muscle diseases get to be in a setting that makes everything accessible to them. They can go horseback riding, swim, climb rock walls, play adaptive sports, and a lot more. Campers get to meet and spend time with other kids who share the same circumstances. Friendships are made, confidence is built, and the realization that the world is completely open to them leave kids happy, excited, and optimistic about the future.

“Thanks to the generosity of our partners and donors, there is no cost for families to send their child to MDA summer camp… We’re trying to teach the kids that they have so many abilities outside of their disease. The disease does not define them. We have people who have graduated from our camping program who realize that they can live independently. They go on to go to college, have great jobs, and have families,” Amber Lannert, Divisional Director at the Muscular Dystrophy Association said. “We are getting closer. And it all starts on local levels with companies like [Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, and Town and Country Market] that do grassroots fundraising for us. We could not do it without you…”

“We’re very proud of what the MDA is doing for the kids and we’re happy to be part of that,” Chris Bengtson Vice President of Public Relations of Strack & Van Til said. “And we’re happy that we can share with our customers who and for what purpose their donations are helping.”

Want to know more about MDA summer camp? Watch the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s MDA National Summer Camp Video!