Benefit dinner planned for MacDonald
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — Fund-raising efforts continue for a local man suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy who is hoping to come up with the money necessary to make a trip to Texas early next year to see a specialist offering a new kind of treatment.
Most recently, Adam MacDonald, of Presque Isle, made the news for raising funds to help others with Duchenne. Now he and his family are hoping to raise enough money to see a doctor who’s been working on a new form of therapy that’s said to improve the quality of life for muscular dystrophy patients.
“Adam received tremendous support throughout Maine from the media coverage he received and was able to raise $9,181 for CureDuchenne. We’re hoping this time, with media coverage, to make people aware of an upcoming event being held to help us raise the funds we need to make the trip to Texas,” said Cheryl Markey, MacDonald’s mother.
Markey said the treatment is specifically designed for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy boys.
“The STS treatment is not new as it has been helping people with other conditions; it’s new for Duchenne/Becker Dystrophy boys,” explained Markey.
While working on MacDonald’s birthday fundraiser — he’d set out to raise $2,500 by his 25th birthday on Oct. 20 but surpassed that goal, raising instead $9,181 — to help other boys and himself, with money going toward continued research to help find a cure for Duchenne, the family was contacted by the Texas doctor who informed them of the possibility of treatments for MacDonald.
“We received a call from Dr. Rhodes’ office in Corpus Christi asking if we could bring Adam to his clinic on Jan. 10, 2011, for STS treatment that has been showing improvement in Duchenne and Becker Dystrophy boys. Adam’s insurance, MaineCare, won’t cover this medical expense — $850 for the clinic visit with evaluation and/or tests, five to six follow-up days at $100 each and $4,500 for the machine that I will be trained on to continue treatments once we return back home, plus hotel costs and van rental costs while in Texas,” said Markey.
The flight to and from Texas has been generously covered by a friend’s donation.
“A family friend has donated his frequent flyer miles to get us our plane tickets,” explained Markey.
Fund raising got under way in earnest recently with a harvest dinner at a local church raising money to help MacDonald make his planned trip.
“Back in June another family friend went to his church board and asked if their annual Harvest Dinner funds this year could be given to Adam to help get him to Texas. This dinner took place Nov. 6. Many turned out for the dinner and people offered their help to get Adam to Texas, with $3,300 raised,” said Markey.
Another event is being planned to assist MacDonald with his upcoming doctor appointment.
“Another fundraiser is being planned by family and friends and will take place on Friday, Nov. 19, beginning at 5 p.m. at the VFW in Presque Isle. This event is a spaghetti dinner/silent auction/dance with the band Sound Friendship (Helping People Through Music) playing. This band plays solely to help anyone raise funds for their own special/important cause,” she said.
Markey said her family learned of this band through contact over the years with the Aroostook HOG Chapter and band member Lela Lyons.
“We have had great success with local businesses donating food for the dinner and great items for the silent auction,” said Markey, noting this would be a great start for anyone doing their Christmas shopping, with a variety of good deals to be had at the auction. Markey also said Bill Smythe has generously donated all the ingredients for the supper.
The cost of the event is adults $7 and kids under age 12 $3. For anyone wanting to attend the dance only, there will be a $5 charge at the door.
