State Personal Achievement Award Recipients

Initiated in 1992, the national awards program recognizes the accomplishments and community service of adults over 18 with disabilities related to any of the diseases in MDA’s program.

The awards were renamed in honor of Robert Ross, MDA’s longtime chief executive, who died in June 2006. Ross created the Personal Achievement Award program to educate the public that disability is no obstacle to accomplishment.

Each local MDA chapter selects a local recipient; all local recipients automatically are considered for a state award. Then, all state award recipients are considered for the national award, which is announced every year on MDA's Labor Day weekend show.

Click on any state to view a bio of its 2011 PAA recipient (ages reflect the recipient's age at the time the award was given in 2011).

U.S. Map

Renee Houston, 53
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
Gardendale, Ala.

Affected by limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) since she was 12, Renee Houston has been an elementary school teacher in the Jefferson County school system for more than 30 years, and is a multiple nominee to Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She is active in MDA fundraising and awareness events, and began volunteering her time for the American Cancer Society after one of her students was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer a few years ago. LGMD causes weakness in voluntary muscles, mainly those of the shoulders, arms, hips and legs. Renee uses a power chair for mobility.
Justin Freestone, 26
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Anchorage, Alaska

Justin Freestone's parents learned he has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) when he was 5 years old. Now a young adult, he uses a power chair for mobility and full-time mechanical ventilation to help him breathe. A college student working toward a degree in psychology or social work, Freestone hopes to become a counselor in order to advocate for children with disabilities. He also is active with MDA, and frequently speaks to school groups, parents of children with disabilities, and others about overcoming challenges and believing in the future.
Asim Varma, 28
Becker muscular dystrophy
Phoenix, Ariz.

Asim Varma has Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and uses a power chair for mobility and a ventilation machine at night to sleep. Born in India, Varma moved to the United States when he was 4, and always resisted special education programs, insisting on attending regular schools. After graduating cum laude from Arizona State University in 2005, he went on to attain his law degree from ASU in 2009. Varma became a member of the Arizona Bar in 2010. Now a practicing attorney, Varma's focus is on disability law and helping others with disabilities achieve their goals.
Leigh Green, 43
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Sherwood, Ark.

Leigh Green, who learned she has ALS in 2008, is a caring and involved mother to her three young daughters. Green has created a foundation to raise funds for the education of children of parents with ALS, as well as for two local charities and MDA's ALS Division. Green raises money for the foundation by selling note cards and other items featuring her artwork. She recently held an art auction that raised some $9,000 for the foundation.
Leslie Krongold, 49
Myotonic muscular dystrophy
Alameda, Calif.

Despite intermittent muscle weakness and fatigue, Leslie Krongold holds a doctorate in education, and has worked as a teacher, writer and multimedia producer in both colleges and high schools. Ironically, she was a dedicated volunteer for MDA long before she received her diagnosis of myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD) in 1998. She grew up in Florida and was MDA's youth chairman in Dade County, as well as a summer camp counselor and active fundraiser. She currently facilitates three support groups, and serves on the City of Alameda's Commission on Disability Issues.
Daniel Pope, 46
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
Longmont, Colo.

Affected by limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), Daniel Pope is medically retired from his job in the architectural millwork industry. In recent years, as a patient outreach volunteer with the advocacy group Sensible Colorado, Pope has worked with state officials to set standards and put controls on the medical marijuana industry while making sure patients' needs were considered. Pope also is an active volunteer for MDA in the Denver and Fort Collins offices.
Paul Breslawski, 22
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Monroe, Conn.

Affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Paul Breslawski uses a power chair for mobility and has an implanted cardiac defibrillator to help his heart beat normally. He graduated in May 2011 from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., with a degree in political science. Breslawski is interested in government and politics, and has done volunteer work for several lawmakers. He plans to attend either graduate school to become a social studies teacher or law school. He credits his family, friends and faith with helping him to maintain a positive attitude. In addition to politics, Breslawski enjoys video games and rock music.
David Lynch, 43
Becker muscular dystrophy
Wilmington, Del.

David Lynch holds several business degrees and worked as a customer service representative for a financial institution. Lynch, who uses a power wheelchair for mobility due to Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), also is active with MDA and other organizations that help people with disabilities, and serves as a deacon of his church.
Denise Thomas, 39
Spinal muscular atrophy
Rockville, Md.

District of Columbia recipient Denise Thomas received a diagnosis at age 5 of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which causes weakness in arms, legs and the torso; she uses a power chair for mobility. In 2008, Thomas was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Maryland. A proud homeowner who lives independently, she was an honors student while earning her bachelor’s degree in business management from St. Andrews College in North Carolina. Since 1998, Thomas has worked for a Silver Springs, Md., nonprofit organization that offers individual support for people with disabilities to help them achieve their goals in areas such as education and employment.
Cristal Locke, 39
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Miami, Fla.

Cristal Locke has held a variety of positions in the Miami-Dade County Public School District, including elementary school teacher, reading coach, curriculum support specialist and assistant principal. As a person with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), Locke understands the pain and misunderstanding that students with disabilities often experience. She has initiated several activities to help support disabled students and enable them to fully participate in school. Locke also is an active volunteer for MDA.