Week Long Fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--For 40 years, KOLR10 brought you the annual Labor Day telethon to raise money in the fight against muscular dystrophy.  

While the telethon is over , the patients and families served by MDA in the ozarks still need help.    

KOLR10 is partnering with MDA once again for something new -- a special week to bring awareness and raise money for a cure.

Starting Monday, whenever, you're out shopping at places like Walmart or stopping for gas at Casey's, there will be a place for you to drop off a donation. The money raised will be used for MDA research.

Six-year-old Zyler Woodward was just three years-old when he was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy.

"It's been hard, devastating at times especially when we got the news of the diagnosis," says Zyler's mother, Holly Uchtman. 

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most rapidly progressive kind of muscular dystrophy causing muscle weakness and loss. Zyler has to wear ankle braces 24-7.

 "He doesn't jump on trampolines, he doesn't get in bounce houses, says Uchtman. 

Besides those limitations, he's still a typical six-year-old boy; enjoying things like baseball, fishing, and taking dips in the water. Uchtman attributes his activeness to great medications and treatments.

"If he would not be getting the medications, Zyler would probably be in a wheelchair a lot sooner so it is a treatment, it is not a cure. It keeps him mobile longer, keeps him on his feet, it slows down the progression to where it doesn't affect his heart, it doesn't affect his lungs," says Uchtman. 

 "Approximately one million people are affected by some form of the 43 different neuromuscular diseases that MDA covers right now," says Jerry Bear, executive director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 

Bear  will be overseeing MDA Week in the ozarks.

"There are eight overall sponsors and they include Walmart, Great Southern, Wilson Logistics, Casey's. They are sponsoring a different day everyday for eight days and we have activities and we're inviting the public to come out to some of these activities and help out however they can," says Bear. 

Because ultimately, Uchtman says its going to take money to fund some of the best treatment in the world like Gene Therapy for the disease.

"Gene Therapy is so exciting and phenomenal and I have high hopes that that will be out here in a couple of years, but it takes the funding," says Uchtman.

Muscular Dystrophy Week starts Monday, August 27th and will end on Monday, September 3rd. 

To make a donation, you can text MDA Week 2018 to 41444.

From there, you'll be given instructions on how to donate.

[karenbolster]

that is me on kolor 10 news i am zyler woodward it was so awsome and cool