ANNUAL SHAMROCKS PROGRAM RAISES MORE THAN $111,000 FOR MDA FAMILES IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO, CA, May 6, 2014 — The Muscular Dystrophy Association announced today that the 32nd annual Shamrocks mobile program raised $111,270 to benefit the children and adults affected by muscle disease in the San Diego area.

            From mid-February through mid-April, more than 122 local retailers and restaurants helped fight back against muscle disease by selling $1 green shamrocks, $5 gold shamrocks or by making a generous donation for platinum mobiles, which were bought and signed by customers and prominently displayed in each store.

“Once again, San Diego retailers and their customers and employees have stepped up to help the communities we serve,” said MDA Executive Director Angel Chanchea. “Each Shamrock sold will directly help the families in our local area. Without the generosity of this community and the help of local business, many of the services MDA provides for families wouldn’t be possible.”

This year's participating retailers in the San Diego area included: 7-Eleven, Better Life Mobility, Boot World, Burger King, Challenger Middle School, Check Center, Cold Stone Creamery, Corner Store, First Bank, Hennessey’s La Jolla, Golden Spoon, Juice It Up, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Northgate Markets, Round Table Pizza, San Diego High School, Shakey’s Pizza, Stumps Markets and Walgreens.

Funds raised through 2014 Shamrock sales will help send area children affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases to MDA summer camp at Camp Cuyamaca in Descanso, CA. The program also helps to support MDA’s worldwide research program and national network of 200 medical clinics, including the MDA Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA.  Along with these services, the Shamrocks program assists in the funding of various local support groups, wheelchair repairs and flu shots offered to families affected by neuromuscular diseases within the San Diego community.

To learn more about the 2014 MDA Shamrocks program and other MDA fundraising programs, contact Fundraising Coordinator Lindsay Southall at 858-492-9792 or lsouthall@mdausa.org, or visit mda.org.

About MDA
            The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement. Visit mda.org and follow us at facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews.

– MDA –