Expanding Age to attend Camp

MDA - Muscular Dystrophy Association. MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and support services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. With national headquarters in Tucson, MDA has more than 200 offices across the country, sponsors more than 200 hospital-affiliated clinics and supports more than 330 research projects around the world. MDA was created in 1950 by a group of adults with muscular dystrophy, parents of children with muscular dystrophy and a physician-scientist studying the disorder. Since its earliest days, it has been energized by its number-one volunteer and national chairman, entertainer Jerry Lewis.

MDA Summer camp is a way for people that have Muscular Dystrophy to interact with people that may feel the same things they do. It's a place to make new friends, be yourself without getting judged, experience things that you never could believe you could, get away from your house for a week, and just have a great time knowing that you're not the only one with a disease.

There are many summer camps around the globe. Most of the camps ages range from 6-21+.

I have FSHD (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy) Muscular Dystrophy is a chronic disease that weakens your muscles. Basically, all my life my muscles will just get weaker and weaker. I have a long life spand, up to 60 something, or longer if I take care of myself. My specific type of MD is facioscapulohumeral MD, which has to do with my FACIAL (Facio) muscles, SHOULDER (Scapulo) muscles and my BACK (Humeral) muscles. This disease is NOT contagious, actually MANY people have Muscular Dystrophy in the world. It's not curable, and it's not fatal. Although in some cases it is fatal, and some not. I was born in Chicago, Illinois. I was healthy, and seemed normal. I was diagnosed with FSHD with right foot drop, when I was 8 years old. My family and I decided to move to Florida, because the cold from staying up North wasn't going to help my body any. I moved to Florida when I was 9, and have been living here ever since. Now I am 17 years old. I started to attend Easter Seals MDA Camp Challenge when I was about 12. I went to Easter Seals MDA Camp Challenge in Sorrento, Florida. It was the most greatest experience that I've had in my life, getting away from my parents and being with people that have what I have. I looked forward to going to every year since then. Some years I have skipped, due to transportation, and other things like that. This year was my last year, and I'm truly devastated. Which is why I decided to stand up for what I believe in, and make this petition.

This is a petition for making the age to attend Easter Seals MDA Camp Challenge 21+ again. Campers have been coming to this camp for twenty to thirty years, and ongoing. The age limit has always been 21+. Because not only children enjoy summer camp, teenagers and young adults do as well. Just recently in 2009, MDA has bumped down the age to 17. That age is way to young to end camp, well to me it is. Previously Easter Seals MDA Camp Challenge has been always packed with campers all ages, every cabin is filled with campers. Suddenly, it appears that the cabins get more empty every year. I understand that the economy isn't doing so well, and every so often there is budget cuts needed. But why would you want to take something away from someone that they enjoy doing. I'm not saying to let campers come forever, because that's irrational. But at least keep the tradition to 21+. I've had some many memories, and made long lasting friends. I just want to be able to come for a couple more years, not forever. Camp for me is getting away from family and just an escape from reality for a week. There are three other camps in Florida, and I've done my research, all of them are 21+. MDA changed the age due to budget, or whatever the reason may be. The directors suggest go to another camp, but why? When Easter Seals appeals the most to me. When I first started going to camp, the age was 21+ and I was so happy, because I knew that I would have a long way to go to enjoy it. But now they made a radical, unnecessary change.

So I hope that maybe this will change MDA's mind, and see my perspective, and see how much it means to me.