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 Joe Akmakjian – Joe Akmakjian, a 17-year-old from Ft. Collins, Colo., will be the subject of a videotaped profile and live interview on the nationwide broadcast of the Telethon. Joe has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a progressive disease that causes weakness in muscles closest to the center of the body such as those of the shoulders, hips, thighs and upper back. He uses a power wheelchair for mobility. Friendly and outgoing, Joe enjoys film, movies, Hollywood and public speaking. He attends MDA clinic and summer camp, and participates in MDA events such as golf tournaments, Hop-a-Thons, Lock-Ups, Stride & Rides, Shamrocks, Fill-the-Boot campaigns and more. |
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 Tyler Black – Tyler Black, a seventh grader from Thatcher, Ariz., will be featured with his parents John and Kris in a videotaped profile during the national broadcast of the Telethon. Tyler, 12, has Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a neurological disorder that causes weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the hands and lower legs, with foot deformities and some loss of sensation in the feet. Tyler walks with leg braces, but for longer distances uses a wheelchair. He enjoys video games, swimming and basketball, and also participates in fundraisers for MDA at his school. |
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 Elron Davis – Elron Davis, 32, of Columbia, S.C., will be the subject of a videotaped profile and live interview on the national Telethon broadcast. Davis enjoys photography, landscaping and getting involved in community programs. He volunteers in his local MDA office and dedicates time at many MDA fundraisers and events, including Stride & Rides, Lock-Ups, summer camp, the Promise of Hope gala and Fill-the-Boot campaigns. Davis has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), a progressive disease that causes weakness and wasting, starting in the muscles of the shoulder and pelvic areas. |
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 Calvin Ray Johnson – Internationally acclaimed country singer Calvin Ray Johnson, 28, of Mount Washington, Ky., is making his fifth appearance on the national broadcast of the Telethon this year. Johnson, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and uses a manual wheelchair, is an accomplished singer, artist and businessman. His first single, “Should’ve Been Singing Rock of Ages,” topped the charts in Europe last year. Also in 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Epiphone Guitar Company for his musical accomplishments and work in behalf of MDA. When not on the road, he performs with his Blue Moon Highway Band at Calvin Ray’s Live Music Theater in Leitchfield. Johnson, who has performed in Nashville, appeared on the 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007 national broadcasts of the Telethon.
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 Augie and Lynne Nieto – Augie and Lynne Nieto of Corona del Mar, Calif., are serving their third term as co-chairpersons of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS Division. Augie, 50, received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease) in March 2005. The co-founder and former president of Life Fitness and the current chairman of Octane Fitness, he has written a book, Augie's Quest: One Man's Journey from Success to Significance, about his experience with ALS. As co-chairs of MDA's ALS Division, the Nietos help raise awareness of ALS through news media interviews, speaking engagements and public service announcements. Augie also serves MDA as a national vice president. The Nietos spearhead MDA's Augie's Quest research initiative, which so far has raised nearly $16 million to benefit the ALS Division's "fast-track" research program.
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 Tyler Parson – Tyler Parson, 15, of Whiteland, Ind., will be the subject of a videotaped profile and live appearance on the national broadcast of the Telethon. Friendly and engaging, Tyler is interested in science, history and Bible study. He enjoys singing with the Praise Team in his youth group and playing soccer. Tyler attends MDA clinic and participates in MDA activities and events including summer camp, Stride & Ride and Telethon. He has Friedreich's ataxia (FA), a disease of the peripheral nerves that causes poor balance and coordination, muscle weakness and loss of sensation. He uses a powered scooter to maintain mobility and independence. |
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 Brett and Jacob Rhoad – Twin brothers Brett and Jacob Rhoad, 9, of Chapin, S.C., and their family will be featured in a videotaped profile and live appearance on the nationwide Telethon broadcast. Jacob and Brett are both outgoing and active, enjoying swimming, nature outings, arts and crafts, reading and animals. The two attend MDA summer camp and support the Association through participation in such activities as the Promise of Hope gala, Stride & Rides, Shamrocks Against Dystrophy, and Fill-the Boot campaigns. Brett and Jacob have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disease that progressively affects all voluntary muscles, the heart and breathing muscles. They both wear leg braces at night to help maintain their mobility. |
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 Noah Spencer – Noah Spencer, 10, of Tucson, Ariz., will be featured in a videotaped profile during the national broadcast of the Telethon. Noah is a fifth grader who enjoys playing video games and is interested in astronomy. He’s also active in MDA fundraising events. He has spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMA2), a disease that causes progressive weakness in the leg, hip, shoulder, arm and respiratory muscles. Noah uses a power wheelchair for mobility and a mechanical ventilator at night to help him breathe. |
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 Abbey Umali – 2008 MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali, a 9-year-old from Redlands, Calif., and her family, will be featured in a videotaped profile and live interview on the national Telethon broadcast. Abbey, who served as California's MDA goodwill ambassador in 2006 and 2007, has congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy, a form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), that causes muscle wasting, lack of coordination and some loss of sensation in upper and lower extremities. She and her family have traveled the country representing the Association and the people it serves. An elementary student, Abbey enjoys swimming, singing and playing the piano, and is interested in becoming a veterinarian. This will be the family's third consecutive appearance on the national Telethon.
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 Bradley Walker – Award-winning country and bluegrass music singer Bradley Walker, 30, of Athens, Ala., will perform live on the national broadcast of the Telethon, his sixth such appearance. Walker was named 2007 Male Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Association. Even before the release of his debut album, “Highway of Dreams,” Bluegrass Unlimited magazine hailed him as “the next great voice of bluegrass music.” Walker has nemaline myopathy (NM), a metabolic muscle disease that causes weakness in the muscles of the arms, legs, trunk, face and throat, and frequently affects respiratory muscles. He uses a power wheelchair for mobility. Walker performed with the Oak Ridge Boys on the national Telethon on 1989, and has been a favorite performer on the show since then.
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 Nicholas Zichella – Nicholas Zichella, 11, of Howell, N.J., will be featured in a videotaped profile on the nationwide broadcast of the Telethon. Nick, who uses a scooter or power wheelchair for mobility, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The degenerative disease progressively affects all voluntary muscles, the heart and respiratory muscles. He’s an honor student at his middle school and loves learning about science and social studies. Nick enjoys his friends, Legos and video games, and is active in MDA fundraising events like Stride & Ride and Fill-the-Boot campaigns. |
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