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DESCRIPTION:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nNOTE TO EDITORS: The media is welcome 
 to cover every aspect of the event.&nbsp\; Please contact Allison Gronsk
 i for more information or to arrange interviews with participants and MD
 A clients. Pictures are available upon request.\n&nbsp\;\nContact:&nbsp\
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  Gronski&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&
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 \;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\; \nLocal Children Hop to Fig
 ht Muscular Dystrophy &nbsp\;\nMay 2012&mdash\;Students enrolled at Elmh
 urst Academy of Early Learning will participate in the Muscular Dystroph
 y Association&rsquo\;s (MDA) Hop-a-Thon\, during the week of May 29th to
  raise money to help children with neuromuscular disease. This is the fi
 rst year the school will be joining MDA&rsquo\;s Hop a Thon program.\n&n
 bsp\;\nEducational activities leading up to the Hop-a-Thon teach student
 s about muscles\, disabilities\, diversity\, assistance and acceptance. 
 &ldquo\;More than a fundraising opportunity\, Hop-a-Thon activities are 
 designed to be both educational and fun for all participants\,&rdquo\; s
 aid Allison Gronski\, fundraising coordinator. &ldquo\;The children lear
 n about helping others and they have fun doing it."\n&nbsp\;\nSchool sta
 ff have been coordinating together to not only enrich the lesson plans\,
  but to together make a difference one hop at a time. Funds raised help 
 send over 80 local children with muscular dystrophy to a week of barrier
 -free MDA summer camp at Camp Red Leaf.&nbsp\; Hop-a-Thons also support 
 MDA&rsquo\;s worldwide research program and its national network of 225 
 clinics\, including Shriners Hospital for Children and Northwestern in C
 hicago\, IL.\n&nbsp\;\nStudents will collect pledges from family\, frien
 ds and neighbors for the number of hops they can complete in a timed per
 iod &ndash\; typically somewhere between 10 and 150 hops.\nMDA's Hop-a-T
 hon program directly benefits local families affected by diseases such a
 s Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy.\n&nbsp\;\nThe
  Muscular Dystrophy Association's Hop-a-Thon program began in the early 
 1980s. Thousands of child care centers\, preschools and elementary schoo
 ls across the country participate in MDA Hop-a-Thons annually.&nbsp\; Ho
 p-a-Thons offer a valuable lesson plan based on three important concepts
 : build awareness\, teach acceptance and motivate to help.&nbsp\; MDA's 
 Hop-a-Thon program is endorsed by the National Child Care Association.\n
 &nbsp\;\nMDA is a non-profit organization providing help\, hope and know
 ledge for everyone suffering from neuromuscular diseases and entire comm
 unities across the nation.&nbsp\; MDA is the world's largest non-governm
 ental sponsor of research seeking the causes of and effective treatments
  for neuromuscular diseases\, sponsoring 400 research projects annually.
 &nbsp\; Through 225 hospital-affiliated clinics\, MDA offers quality med
 ical care from doctors\, nurses and therapists experienced in dealing wi
 th neuromuscular diseases. These clinics also serve as sites for clinica
 l trials of the latest experimental therapies and drugs. MDA also offers
  about 290 support groups for those with neuromuscular diseases and thei
 r families.&nbsp\; When medically prescribed by the local MDA clinic phy
 sician\, MDA assists with the purchase of wheelchairs\, leg braces\, and
  communication devices. &nbsp\;Since 1955\, MDA has built bridges and kn
 ocked down barriers for youngsters with neuromuscular diseases by provid
 ing an unforgettable week at MDA summer camp. Campers say the week they 
 spend at MDA camp is "the best week of the year."&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nTo le
 arn more about Hop-a-Thons and other MDA programs\, contact the Muscular
  Dystrophy Association in Downers Grove at (630) 598-0700.\n#
URL:http://elmhurst.patch.com/events/hop-a-thon-elmhurst-academy-of-early
 -learning
SUMMARY:Hop a Thon- Elmhurst Academy of Early Learning
LOCATION:212 W Lake St\, Elmhurst\, IL 60126: 212 W Lake St\, Elmhurst\, 
 IL
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