HELP FIGHT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
ONE SHAMROCK AT A TIME
TUCSON, Ariz., March 1, 2006 — Now through St. Patrick’s Day,
millions of Americans will team up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to
make the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program a huge success. Internationally renowned singer Maureen McGovern,
who’ll spread “the luck of the Irish” through March 17, will
again lead the popular MDA tradition.
By purchasing and signing $1 and $5 Shamrock mobiles and hanging them in
supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and other retailer outlets,
patrons of thousands of businesses nationwide are supporting MDA’s fight
against neuromuscular diseases as well as creating a
colorful display of green and gold shamrocks.
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, participating businesses and sponsors,
Shamrocks Against Dystrophy, the nation’s largest charitable campaign
associated with St. Patrick’s Day, raised just over $12 million in 2005.
McGovern, a member of MDA’s Board of Directors and a favorite performer on
the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, is serving for a sixth
year as the chairperson of Shamrocks Against Dystrophy.
“Words can’t express the importance of this special MDA
program,” said McGovern, whose teenage niece is affected by one of the
diseases in the Association’s program. “MDA is near and dear to my
heart – not just because it has helped improve the life of someone I
love, but because it offers help and hope to tens of thousands of other
families.”
Funds raised through the Shamrocks program support MDA’s vital research and service programs, including 90 summer
camps and some 240 local MDA clinics.
“Shamrocks Against Dystrophy is a colorful way to publicly support
MDA’s mission to put an end to neuromuscular diseases,” MDA
President & CEO Robert Ross said.
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
To find out more about MDA or the Shamrocks program, call (800) 572-1717, or
visit www.mda.org.
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