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Muscular Dystrophy Association's 7th Annual Nashville Muscle Team Gala Honors Local Nashville Family, MDA Ambassador Emmaline Hosted by Shawn Parr on August 22
Funds raised go towards accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating to empower families living with muscular dystrophy, ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease) and related neuromuscular diseases.
NASHVLLE, TN, August 16, 2023 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will hold the 7th annual MDA Nashville Muscle Team Gala, with presenting sponsor Numotion Foundation, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 6-9pm at Marathon Music Works to raise funds to accelerate research, advance care, and empower MDA families living with neuromuscular disease. Since the inception of MDA, the organization has invested more than $1 billion in research, in addition to funding over 150 MDA Care Centers nationwide, producing educational and recreational programs and support resources for families, and advocating for access to treatments, employment, education, travel and more. Locally, MDA funds the multidisciplinary medical teams at the MDA Care Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Funds raised also support MDA Summer Camp where children and young adults have a week-long transformative experience – at no cost to families. Donations may be made here.
“We are proud to bring the community together for this event in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s mission,” said Scott Hickman, MDA Nashville Muscle Team Committee Chair. “We are looking forward to another fulfilling evening supporting families who are living with muscle disease. Funds raised at the Gala will add to the over $1 million this event has contributed to in support of important research, care, and advocacy, and to assist families by sending children and young adults to MDA Summer Camp each year."
The MDA Nashville Muscle Team Gala will honor MDA Ambassador Emmaline. “Emmaline was diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy Collagen 6A1 in a mosaic pattern, meaning not every cell is affected, at the age of 5. As parents we find comfort in being able to easily access resources created by the MDA. We feel so fortunate that a diagnosis was found, and interventions were started early for Emmaline relative to many others with her condition, and through the continued work of MDA, the time to diagnosis, and to getting answers for families will be even shorter. MDA has truly made living with a progressive neuromuscular condition not only possible but better. She is a great advocate for herself and others with disabilities. Emmaline loves to dance, sing, play with her friends, go shopping, and especially loves attending MDA Summer Camp,” said Emmaline’s parents Jason and Amy Johnson. Emmaline and her family will be sharing their journey and the positive impact of MDA support in their lives at the Gala.
Guests attending the gala will have an opportunity to network with local business leaders and MDA Ambassadors. This interactive evening will include great food and beverage, live and silent auction, wine pull, and a mission program hosted by Shawn Parr, from the Nationally Syndicated Radio Show “Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country” heard on over 80 stations nationwide.
This year’s MDA Nashville Muscle Team Presenting Sponsor is Numotion Foundation, Champion Sponsors include CITGO, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, and Mission Sponsor is National Seating and Mobility. The partnership of these companies represents years of support and dedication to the families served by MDA.
MDA Nashville Muscle Team Committee: Scott Hickman - Committee Chair, Mary Avent, Corinne Grgas, Austin Edenfield, David Pietrzak, Rachel Thomas.
About Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is the #1 voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. For over 70 years, MDA has led the way in accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating for the support of our families. MDA's mission is to empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org and follow MDA on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
