FORMER MDA GOODWILL
AMBASSADOR MATT BROWN DIES

TUCSON, Ariz., July 19, 2003 – Matthew C. Brown of Eastanollee, Ga., who served as National Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, died on July 18 as a result of the neuromuscular disease spinal muscular atrophy.

Brown, 35, served as MDA National Goodwill Ambassador in 1977 and 1978. During that time, he made public appearances across the country as an MDA representative and was interviewed on the national broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

His service to MDA took him to the White House to meet fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter, and an MDA photo session with Brown was the subject of a “60 Minutes” report on famed photographer Yousuf Karsh.

Several years after Brown’s service as a Goodwill Ambassador, he was hospitalized with pneumonia. MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis made a surprise visit to his hospital room.

“Matt was a great kid with a terrific sense of humor,” Lewis said. “He was incredibly devoted to MDA, not only while he served as Goodwill Ambassador but also for the rest of his life. I loved Matt, and he’ll be deeply missed.”

Brown remained an active volunteer with MDA as an adult. For several years he was an independent contractor with a pharmaceutical company. In 1995, he published his autobiography, Crying in the Night.

Spinal muscular atrophy destroys motor neurons and leads to severe weakness of voluntary muscles. Respiratory failure results as the muscles needed for breathing lose strength.

Several forms of SMA are among the more than 40 diseases covered by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.