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Local businesses raise
funds for SMA research Wednesday, August 7, 2002 CANDACE PRESTON-COY Several Dublin businesses have joined in the fight
against the leading genetic killer of children under two by helping to
raise money for research.
August is SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) Awareness
month and several local businesses have placed containers on their
counters to collect money for the Miracle for Madison Fund, which
supports SMA research at The Ohio State University Medical Center,
according to Annette Reed.
Annette Reed is the mother of five-year-old Madison
Reed, for whom the fund is named. Madison was diagnosed with one of
the most lethal forms of the disease, SMA1, and was not expected to
live past her second birthday. Because of the care she receives from
her parents, her medical team and volunteers from around the Dublin
community, Madison is beating the odds, her mother said. Her father,
Carl, is a teacher at Dublin Coffman High School and the family lives
in Dublin.
The life expectancy of a child with SMA1 is two years.
The disease destroys nerve cells known as motor neutrons, which
control voluntary movements such as crawling, walking, head and neck
control, and swallowing.
While the contributions will help, Annette Reed said,
the main focus of the fund-raiser is to raise awareness of the
disease.
"Awareness right now is very critical," she
said. "The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Strokes (NINDS) has recognized SMA as a very probably curable
disease" and will begin a transitional study this fall to convert
findings from laboratories into treatment options for patients.
Dr. Kenneth Fischbeck is chief of the Neurogenetics
Branch, Division of Intramural Research with NINDS. In a presentation
to a NINDS advisory council, he said SMA was chosen for the study
"because of the severity of the disease, its relatively high
incidence and the fact that the gene has been identified and the gene
product is known, resulting in leads on possible treatments."
With adequate funding for research into treatments, he
said, it could have "implications for other diseases."
Putting out a jar for donations "is an easy way
for businesses to help," Mrs. Reed said.
Two local businesses -- Handel's Homemade Ice Cream in
Hilliard and DaNay's coffee and gift shop in Shawnee Hills -- have
been collecting for SMA since March. For August, Reed has seven other
businesses signed up, some with multiple locations: Tim Hortons on
Perimeter Drive, Dublin Cleaners (five locations), Dublin Dairy Queen,
Maggie Moos in Dublin, Mailboxes Etc. in Dublin, Dana's Coffee House
in Dublin and Pizzano's Pizza in Dublin and at Polaris.
"I can't thank these businesses enough for their
support," Mrs. Reed said.
While many businesses raise money and call attention
to various charities during the holidays, the focus drops off during
other times of the year, said Mark McCormick, owner/manager of DaNay's.
The coffee shop joined the Miracle for Madison team in
March and plans to remain involved, he said. "I think it is a
great cause."
Handel's, with several locations in Youngstown,
Annette Reed's home town, opened on March 21 on Feder Road in
Hilliard.
"Annette saw we were opening and thought we might
like to get involved in the Miracle for Madison Fund," said
co-owner Chris DeAngelo. It didn't take much to convince him to put
the contaner up and some signs in the window after meeting Madison.
"She's such a sweet little girl, such a
sweetheart," he said.
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