Contacts: Kelli Park Courtney McEleney Manager, Public Relations

Contacts:
Kelli Park
Manager, Public Relations
(520) 603-5724 (cell)
[email protected]
Courtney McEleney
Manager, Community Relations
(949) 412-4068
[email protected]
Below you will find great feature stories and interview opportunities in conjunction with the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon and MDA Team Momentum, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s new nationwide endurance program
designed to help support the organization’s mission to save and improve the lives of those fighting muscle disease.
Many of those participating in this race through MDA Team Momentum are unique because many are running with
personal connections and ambition to fuel the fight for muscle health, making a significant impact on the lives of MDA
families across the nation.
Please contact Kelli Park or Courtney McEleney to set up an interview/ photo opportunities.
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Nate Sammler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Joined by family members Matt Getting, Kristen Garland and Zack Sammler, Team Muscle Hustle
is running in honor of Sammler’s wife Kim and Matt Getting himself who were both diagnosed with Myotonic Type 2
MD this past December. Matt Getting wants to continue to run until he no longer can and aspires to take on a full Ironman
competition in 2015. This team of four has raised $12,600 to date.
Wendi Sloane, of Highland Park, Ill.
Wendi is running her 23rd marathon in honor of a close family member affected by muscle disease. Wendi fundraised for
MDA in the 2011 and 2012 Chicago Marathons. This year, she is a Team Mentor and assists other participants in their
training and fundraising efforts. Since 2011, Wendi has raised nearly $18,000.
Amy Degnan, of Chicago, Ill.
Amy is running for her brother Mike who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Mike is 37 years old and beating the
odds every day- he holds a full time job, has a wife and a little boy. Growing up, Amy’s family was heavily involved with
the Boston area MDA. Upon moving to Chicago she was not motivated to get involved with the local MDA until 2011,
when she ran with MDA’s first organized team of runners in the Chicago Marathon. Since then, Amy runs the Chicago
Marathon annually and has raised $7,700. She is striving to reach $7,000 total from this year’s campaign alone. She
formed the team Muscles for Mike and recruited 14 of her friends to join her. They have a goal to raise $20,000
collectively by the time the marathon comes around.
Henry’s Heroes
This team was formed by four local Chicagoans, previously unaffiliated with the MDA. Each team member has been
brought together by a local family living with MD. The team was formed by Kim Kreiling of Chicago who went to
college with Jon Betts of McHenry, Ill. Jon’s son, Henry, is 2 years old and was diagnosed with Congenital muscular
dystrophy (CMD) shortly after birth. A friend of Jon’s, Steve Jenkins, found out via social media that there was a team in
honor of Henry and joined. Later on in the season, Rebeccah Biser and Michelle Motz who were camp counselors with
Jon Betts were inspired to join the movement as well. Henry’s Heroes has raised $7,400 to date.
Patrick Sawhill, of Traverse City, Mich.
Patrick’s son Finley has a rare muscle disease, Nemaline Myopathy. Patrick decided to run with Team Momentum
because he says “he can better understand some of the challenges that Finley might experience when he is pushing himself
mentally and physically to the limits.” The family is very involved with their local MDA office through the services that
MDA provides and visiting/thanking area sponsors. To date, Patrick has raised nearly $6,000.
Brittani Webb, of Addison, Texas
Brittani’s father was diagnosed with ALS in January and she is running in honor of him. Brittani began fundraising as she
trained and competed in the 2014 Boston Marathon. To bring her efforts full circle, she joined Team Momentum for the
Chicago Marathon and is bringing friends and family members to run the race with her. To date, Brittani has raised $8,900
in her Boston and Chicago Marathon efforts.
-MDA-

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