Annual MDA telethon coming up on Labor Day!

Dear Editor:

I am writing to inform everyone of the MDA telethon this coming Monday. MDA provides money for research for over 40 different diseases.
I have two daughters, Betsy and Emily, that were diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia at ages 10 and 12. Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) is one of these diseases under the MDA umbrella.

FA is a rare, genetic, neurodegenerative, multisystem, life-shortening disorder that affects one in about 50,000 people in the United States.

Betsy died at age 25 from complications from FA. Emily is in the advanced stages of this disease. The only thing that will help Emily and the many other children affected with this horrible disease is research.

Right now there are four new drugs in the lab awaiting testing to see if the cure is here. They have restored Frataxin (the missing protein) in the mouse model.

When Betsy died she donated some of her organs to research to help find a cure. She wanted a cure to be found in time to help her sister and other friends.

Research is the only thing that will help these kids. Research means money. Please give generously to the MDA telethon. Money can be directed directly for research for Fredreich's Ataxia by giving to MDA-SAM. SAM stands for Seek A Miracle.

If you get a chance to watch the broadcast, the local segment, broadcast from Midland is going to do a tribute to Betsy's life.

Ruth Neyland

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