MDA Sends 45 South Florida Children to Summer Camp
The South Florida region of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will send 45 children with neuromuscular diseases to its annual summer camp in Brandon, Florida from July 18-23. Sailormen, Inc., a subsidiary of Miami-based company Interfoods of America and the largest domestic franchisee of PopeyeÂ’s Chicken & Biscuits, has been a prominent camp sponsor for the last several years.
BRANDON, FL (PRWEB) July 15, 2004
The South Florida region of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will send 45 children with neuromuscular diseases to its annual summer camp in Brandon, Florida from July 18-23. The campers will depart for camp at 11:00 a. m. from the Crowne Plaza Hotel located across from Sawgrass Mills Mall at 13400 West Sunrise Boulevard. Members of the press, MDA sponsors, volunteers, and other special guests are invited to attend “VIP Day” on Wednesday, July 21.
For children with a disability, MDA summer camp is a magical place where barriers simply do not exist. The camp offers a wide range of activities specifically designed for young people who have limited mobility or use wheelchairs. Accessible activities range from outdoor sports such as swimming, boating, and archery, to less physically demanding programs like arts and crafts and campfires.
Each camper receives one-on-one attention from his or her own counselor, many of whom are fire fighters that donate their time to serve as camp volunteers. At MDA summer camp, a child with a disability is just a child among friends. Many campers say it is the best week of their lives.
MDA summer camps have accommodated thousands of campers since the program began in 1955. Since then, children have been attending summer camp each year at no cost to their families. The average cost of $600 per camper is covered entirely by the generous support of local corporations and individuals who raise funds to support MDA.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has been the largest supporter of MDA for the last 50 years, collecting money primarily through their annual Fill-the-Boot campaigns. Sailormen, Inc., a subsidiary of Miami-based company Interfoods of America and the largest domestic franchisee of PopeyeÂ’s Chicken & Biscuits, also has been a prominent camp sponsor for the last several years. These remarkable supporters will be recognized on the 39th annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon to be held this Labor Day weekend, September 5-6, on WBFS-TV/UPN 33.
MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat 43 neuromuscular diseases through global research programs, comprehensive patient and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. Each year, MDA provides the opportunity for more than 4,000 youths to attend summer camp.
For more information about MDAÂ’s summer camp program, visit www. mdausa. org. To set up an interview with a camp participant, please contact Marcy Connor, Regional Public Affairs Coordinator, at (561) 742-3748.
