MDA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
FOR 2006 SUMMER CAMP
TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 9, 2005 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association
is searching for summer camp volunteers who are looking for a rewarding
and memorable experience. Volunteer counselors are needed to help young
people with neuromuscular diseases enjoy fun-filled, weeklong MDA summer camps across the country.
Volunteer counselors must be at least 16 years old and able to lift
and care for a young person between the ages of 6 and 21. Each counselor
becomes a companion to a camper with a neuromuscular disease. Counselors
help their campers with daily activities such as eating, bathing and
dressing, and in recreational activities such as arts and crafts, swimming
and horseback riding.
“Young people with neuromuscular diseases look forward to MDA
camp every year because it’s a place where barriers simply do
not exist,” said MDA President & CEO Robert Ross. “Our
campers get to experience indoor and outdoor activities that are adapted
to their abilities, and the campers and volunteers alike make lifelong
friends at camp.”
The experience also is memorable for the volunteers. “The magic
of MDA summer camp is especially dependent upon the caring spirits of
young volunteers who agree that the camp experience is like no other,
and that the reward of smiling faces far outweighs the hard work,”
Ross added.
At no charge to families, MDA’s summer
camp program serves more than 4,000
campers nationwide in some 90 weeklong
sessions. Last year, over 4,700 volunteers
helped make this all possible. It costs
the Association $650 to send one child
to camp.
To obtain a volunteer application or learn about other ways to support
MDA’s summer camp program, contact your local MDA office, or call
(800) 572-1717. More information about summer camp volunteers can be
found on the MDA summer camp pages of the MDA Web site at www.mda.org/clinics/camp/.
MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular
diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services,
and far-reaching professional and public health education.
The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual
private contributors.
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