Source: Judy Stropus
Date: 05/15/2008

CHARLOTTE - Cory McClenathan will represent Don Schumacher Racing and the NHRA Thursday evening, May 15, at the 6th annual 2008 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Muscle Team event at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, which is open to the public. The driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will lend his support to help provide opportunities for local children living with neuromuscular disease to interact with some of their favorite athletes.

Muscle Team® 2008 pairs children with neuromuscular diseases and celebrity athletes as “buddies” for the evening. In addition to mingling with athletes in an intimate setting, the evening will include live entertainment, food and silent and live auctions. Other athletes scheduled to participate include NASCAR luminaries Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, and others.

According to the organizers, this is not a formal, sit-down, black-tie affair; rather, it is an interactive, casual and fun evening where guests have access to their favorite professional athletes. Professional athletes and celebrities will put their muscle behind the fight against neuromuscular disease. By playing on the same team and shooting for one very special goal, they are expected to score big and raise funds to help children in the Greater Charlotte area who are living with a neuromuscular disease.

"It's great if you have any young child or person see you as a role model," said McClenathan. "This is an opportunity to show them a good time and give them some hope. I've been asked for the last two years to do this and I was finally able to attend, so I feel very honored to be part of this.

"I love working with young children and this is the perfect opportunity to do something for someone else and make a difference. As a parent, it really pulls at your heart, and if we can make a difference even for one night it’s a big deal to me.” "Through donations, we are attempting to raise funds for as many children as possible to attend the MDA Summer Camp, a camp specially designed for children with neuromuscular disease," said Buffy Waltrip, Coach of Muscle Team 2008. Last year, Muscle Team® raised $247,000 (net). This year’s goal is to surpass $400,000 (net).

The event will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $250 per person and are available by calling Theresa Miller, MDA, at 704-962-4121.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency -- a dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans. MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA supports more research on neuromuscular diseases than any other private-sector organization in the world. MDA scientists are in the forefront of gene therapy research and have uncovered the genetic defects responsible for several forms of muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), childhood spinal muscular atrophy, and several other neuromuscular conditions. The Association's programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors. MDA seeks no government grants, United Way funding or fees from those it serves. Funds raised at Muscle Team® 2008 will help send kids to MDA Summer Camp. MDA sponsored Summer Camp is a special place; a place where barriers do not exist. MDA provides youngsters the opportunity to attend summer camp at no charge. Camp offers a wide range of activities especially designed for children who have limited mobility or who use wheelchairs. For young people with neuromuscular diseases, MDA Camp is a magical place where fun and friendships are the rule of the day.

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