You may have seen me zipping through the hall in my chair with the reason that I have Muscular Dystrophy.

There is a Muscle Walk that happens yearly around spring time. The walk this year is on April 29 at 10 a.m. in Tower Grove Park. The purpose of the walk is to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy as far as research, camp, medical equipment as well as other things.

But camp is one of the biggest ones that this walk helps. It is a mile walk and anyone can participate. You can choose to donate, but the walk is free. I walk for my friends, family and myself. This is my second year participating in the walk. My family and my neighbors the Hawn’s have a team for the walk called “The Flying Pigs.”

The Hawn’s first created the team in 2009 after Jennifer and Chris Hawn experienced the loss of their 6 month year old son, Ryan Michael Hawn. Ryan had Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1. This causes profound weaknesses of the core muscles of the body and infants like Ryan, primarily the muscles used for breathing.

There is no cure for SMA. Different types of SMA can be affected later on in life or as a infant. Ryan’s diagnosis progressed very quickly. It caused him to completely lose the ability to move and the ability to breathe. He passed away on July 28th, 2009 from respiratory failure.

The Hawn family has taken the emotions from the loss of Ryan and use it to support other family and children with similar issues. They are a huge supporter of MDA and keep Ryan’s memory alive by doing the walk and participating in other events. It was really a blessing for them to come into our families lives and let us be apart of their team. My mom and  Mrs. Hawn discovered our similarities in between a simple conversation over the fence one day. My family and I came along and joined the team. I have Myopathy with respiratory weakness.

My disease causes me to have fatigue, respiratory airway obstruction, shortness of breath, and weak in my neck, hip, thigh, upper arm muscles. I also have scoliosis. I have been in a chair for about two years to conserve my energy and to preserve my respiratory function. My sister and my mom also have a milder form of Muscular Dystrophy. It’s nice that our families and friends can come together and support not only our families but others as well.

Last year, we raised nearly $16,000 from October to April and our goal this year is $30,000. The team is getting bigger and bigger each year. I always look forward to this event every year because I get to reunite with my friends and counselors from camp.

I also get to be with my friends and family who are supporting MD, which I’m forever grateful for those people and for dealing with my crazy self! This is just a fun event. There is food, music and characters from movies and such. (Personally not a fan of people dressing up in costumes SCARY). The Muscle Walk is not only fun, but it’s also for a good cause. I encourage you to donate and or walk. Here is the link for the walk if you are interested: http://www2.mda.org/site/TR/MuscleWalk/MuscleWalk2018-National?fr_id=24403&pg=entry