I had a request from the regional captain of 'Coach to Cure MD'. Turner Gill is a part of this worthy endeavor and it would be Great if UB fans could donate through their website or at the tailgate before the CMU game on October 3rd.
Timothy,
Could you post something about Coach to Cure MD on Buffalo Bulls Football Face Book page. Coach Turner Gill is supporting this effort. He will be wearing a Coach to Cure MD patch on during the September 26, 2009 game against Temple University. Also, I will be holding a fundraiser and tailgating event in the Tailgate lot at UB on Oct. 3, 2009. I have included the Coach to Cure MD information below:
We will be having a fundraising event for Coach to Cure MD on October 3rd, here at the University at Buffalo football game in the tailgate lot.
My daughter is a sophomore at UB this year. Her brother is almost 16 and has Duchenne Muscular Dystropy, he is still walking, which is rare for a patient with Duchenne his age. My family is very active in supporting Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. We have lobbied the United States Congess to raise awareness and obtain federal funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. An I serve on the National Board for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.
Coach to Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is the most common, progressive and lethal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood. Most boys who are fighting Duchenne lose their ability to walk before they are teenagers. They often require ventilators by their late teens and sadly survive only into their mid -twenties. To date, there is no cure.
"College football coaches are dedicated to the betterment of young men and that's why the entire coaching profession is proud to be a part of Coach to Cure MD," said Grant Teaff, AFCA executive director and legendary former coach of Baylor University."Our coaches are determined to beat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and we need college football fans to help." The financial service firm TIAA-CREF has signed on again this year as the national sponsor and will donate air-time on September 26th for a Coach to Cure MD commercial featuring football legends, Jim Tressel and Rich Rodriguez.
On September 26th, AFCA members will wear a Coach to Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Football fans can donate to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research by going online to http://www.coachtocuremd.org/. In addition to Buffalo Bulls Coach Turner Gill wearing the Coach to Cure MD insignia on September 26th. Buffalo Bulls fans can show their support by visiting the Coach to Cure MD table and fundraising event in the tail gate lot at the October 3rd, 2009 Buffalo Bulls home game.
"We are thrilled to be teammates again this year with the AFCA for Coach to Cure MD. The commitment of the coaches and universities that are participating is truly inspiring. We are taking a comprehensive approach in the fight against Duchenne,funding research, raising awareness, promoting advocacy, connecting the community, and broadening treatment options," said Pat Furlong, founding president and CEO of PPMD. "And with the support of the AFCA and college football fans everywhere, we are confident that we will end Duchenne."
About PPMD
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The organizations mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy through research, advocacy, education and compassion. PPMD is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio with offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/l/2ab10;www.parentprojectmd.org.
In 2008 the AFCA adopted PPMD's Coach To Cure MD program as one of their charity efforts. One reason the AFCA was drawn to Coach To Cure MD was because of the unique parallels between Duchenne, a disorder which robs young men of precious muscle strength and college football, a game where young men are at the peak of their muscle strength.
The goals of Coach To Cure MD are simple: raise national awareness of the disorder and raise money to fund research for a cure. Our approach to reachingthese goals is also simple. One football Saturday of each season AFCA coaches nationwide agrees to promote Coach To Cure MD. By wearing armbands, mentioning Coach To Cure MD during on and off-field interviews, and in some instances doing even more extensive media relations around the date, coaches are rolling up their sleeves and proudly getting involved.
Coach To Cure MD had a great start in 2008 with extensive national media coverage. From the 2,675 coaches who participated, the over 16,000 media contacts reached, the 2,289,245 in stadium attendees, and the over 32 million at home viewers, Coach To Cure MD was visible from coast to coast. National publications like USA Today and on-air television spots on networks like CBS, also helped to give spotlight to this national game day charity event.
Your time and consideration is appreciated, Sincerely, Christine Piacentino Regional Coach to Cure MD Captain
I had a request from the regional captain of 'Coach to Cure MD'. Turner Gill is a part of this worthy endeavor and it would be Great if UB fans could donate through their website or at the tailgate before the CMU game on October 3rd.