Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy hosts “New Year, New You!” event. Proceeds to send a child with muscular dystrophy (MD) to summer camp. CFMD was formed by the family of Aileen D. Colorado, a Midlothian woman who suffered from MD since birth. She died in 2011 from complications of pneumonia.

Midlothian, VA – January 1, 2014 – The Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy (CFMD) will be hosting its first official fundraising event! “New Year, New You!” is a Health and Fitness Event to be held Saturday, January 4, 2014 from 10:00AM – 1:00PM at the Harbour Pointe Clubhouse of the Brandermill Community on Promontory Place in Midlothian, VA. The health and fitness event will feature a Zumba Fitness class, yoga class, and health products for sale! A minimum donation of $10.00 is required for entry to all events! All donations and 30% of the proceeds from health products sold will go to the Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy.

The Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy (CMFD) was established in honor of Aileen D. Colorado, a Midlothian native who passed away from complications of pneumonia in May 2011.  Diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy since birth, Aileen always strived to do more and contribute to others through her work advocating for disability employment, despite her own physical limitations. CMFD’s mission is to increase quality of life for persons with muscular dystrophy. We provide financial assistance for activities, educational programs, events, and technology that support, or lead to the support, of persons with muscular dystrophy and their families.

Muscular dystrophies (MD) are included in a group of more than 40 neuromuscular diseases characterized by progressive muscle deterioration.  Persons with a neuromuscular disease may develop scoliosis, joint contractures, feeding or swallowing difficulties, and respiratory insufficiency, often requiring ventilator support.   MD is prevalent worldwide across all demographics, with currently no known cure.  Throughout Central and Southeastern Virginia, over 1,600 people currently attend Muscular Dystrophy Association clinics in Richmond, Charlottesville and Norfolk. The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases.

Although the Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy is still awaiting their status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they are moving forward with their mission by raising funds for their first initiative – to sponsor and send a child to the 2014 MDA Summer Camp.  Each year, MDA provides the opportunity for children diagnosed with one of the 43 neuromuscular diseases and between ages 6 and 17, to attend MDA Summer Camp at no cost to the family.  The camp for children in Central & Southeastern Virginia is held each year at the 4-H Airfield Conference Center in Wakefield, Virginia. Campers spend one week in camp and are cared for by a trained counselor, medical staff and MDA personnel.   It costs $800 to send a child to camp.  CFMD hopes to sponsor a child by donating $800 toward the total camp funds required for 50 anticipated children to participate.

Stephanie Colorado, Aileen’s sister who also has MD, is a board member of CMFD. She encourages every child with muscular dystrophy to attend MDA summer camp.  “It was such a memorable part of my childhood because it gave me the opportunity to experience the same type of activities most children got to do in the summer.  I got to spend time away from my parents, ride horses, go canoeing, go swimming, compete in field day events,  and meet friends that I would have for  the rest of my life,”  Stephanie said.  “More importantly, it also taught me how to be more independent, how to manage my own care needs and it gave me hope about my own future by meeting older campers who were succeeding at living fulfilling lives with Muscular Dystrophy.”

For more information about the Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy and the “New Year, New You” event, please visit  http://www.coloradofmd.org/new-year-new-you/.

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