Dedicated to my son, Travis Edward Gordon, who taught me unconditional love and understanding. To Roger, Dorina, Jason, Marc and Jonathan. Thank you for always being there and for all the help and love you have given along the way. Special acknowledgement to Jerry Lewis and the wonderful people of MDA, for with them we have hope. Published and distributed by the Muscular Dystrophy Association in conjunction with Kathy L. Gordon.

A Message for Teachers and Parents

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary agency working to defeat 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.With national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., MDA has 186 local offices around the country, maintains some 225 hospital-affiliated clinics and supports nearly 400 research projects around the world.

By supporting MDA, you're helping the Association serve tens of thousands of American children and adults affected by these diseases. They include nine types of muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Friedreich's ataxia, myasthenia gravis and other conditions that damage muscles and nerves.

The Association's programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributions.

If you'd like to arrange a program about MDA for your school or organization, of if you're seeking more information about MDA's programs in your community, call your local MDA office of MDA's toll-free national lifeline, (800) 572-1717.You can find MDA on the Internet at www.mda.org.