St. Charles Noon Rotary vice president held for 'ransom' fundraiser

Submitted by St. Charles Noon Rotary

At a recent meeting, Scott Briggs, St. Charles Noon Rotary vice president, introduced two close friends whom he had gotten to know with the Muscular Dystrophy Association — Allison Gronski, fundraising coordinator, and Joy Edminson, a Geneva resident. Both women are actively involved in MDA's upcoming fundraiser “St. Charles' Lock-Up 2012” where local business people are captured and held for “ransom,” with the proceeds of the ransom going to help support MDA's mission. Briggs has already been alerted that he will be “locked up” on June 5 and held at Cougars' Stadium until friends and family pay for his release. He has set an ambitious goal of raising $1,500 for MDA.

From young children to young fathers, this disease causes great sadness and unhappy endings, but with your help, things can be different.

For example, Edminson is a grandmother of two young boys, Ryan and Austin, affected by muscular dystrophy. She and Gronski visited the club's meeting to give an update of MDA's mission, as well as Edminson's personal experience with her 12- and 3-year-old grandsons' challenges and how MDA supported her family with their neuromuscular diseases.

Whether chatting by phone, face-to-face or via Internet, thousands of people, including Edminson and her family, have found friendship, empathy and problem-solving by linking up with others through MDA's support systems. Finding such support doesn't mean that you'll find a room full of tears and sob stories. Sharing emotions is a priority, but so is exchanging ideas, victories and inspiration for living with neuromuscular disease. Many participants find they receive the biggest boost by giving of themselves and sharing their tips for making life easier.

It's MDA's goal to provide opportunities to give and receive support to as many people as possible. One of the favorite support activities is the “MDA Summer Camp” which offers a wide range of activities specially designed for young people who have limited mobility or use wheelchairs. Although structured, camp programs are conducted in a relaxed atmosphere that gives campers an unmatched opportunity to develop lifelong friendships, share interests and build self-confidence. Children who have gone to MDA's Summer Camp call it: “The Best Week of the Year”.

The St. Charles Noon Rotary Club is about service, fellowship and networking — a global network of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Visit www.rotarystc.org.