TEAM LAURA DOES JUST FANTASTIC AT 2^nd ANNUAL MDA GREAT WALK IN SPRINGFIELD!

A message from: Laura Beth Jacquin

From: Laura Beth

Sent:  June 15, 2003

To:     My Family, Friends, and Supporters

 The MDA Great Walk on June 8th was an even bigger success this year!  TEAM LAURA raised over $16,000 for MDA Seek-A-Miracle, more than twice the amount donated last year...and I have all of you to thank for it.  Over 100 people participated in the Walk for TEAM LAURA.  I was so excited to accept so many kind donations for the MDA and I feel blessed to have inspired everyone to help my team.  I know that someday people will not have to worry about muscular dystrophy and the reason why is because of you!

Love,  
Laura Beth

 On June 8, 2003, the second annual "MDA Great Walk" was held at Forest Park in Springfield, MA.  The support for TEAM LAURA (and Laura Beth Jacquin) was absolutely fantastic.  TEAM LAURA raised donations to provide research funds to find a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia through the Muscular Dystrophy Association – Seek a Miracle.

 Laura Beth with her two favorite teachers – Ms. Thoma  Miller
 (7^th & 8^th grade math) and Ms. Kim Buescher (Fr & So French)

Thanks to TEAM LAURA, the MDA Western MA district once again considered the event a terrific success.  We were all astounded that TEAM LAURA easily surpassed their goal of doubling last year’s contribution to the MDA.  We never, ever thought we would raise over $16,000 – and donations are still coming in (and gladly accepted). 

 Overall, the Great Walk raised over $20,000 in donations for the MDA, and more than 60% of the walkers came out for Laura Beth.  Many family members, friends, colleagues from work, students & teachers – not to mention friends of friends who we met that morning – joined us on the walk and back at our house for a congratulatory picnic after the event.  It was a very special day for all of us.

 The donations from 90 colleagues at Surface Specialties & Solutia totaled over $2200 – including new co-workers in Cambridge, MA and Smyrna, GA. 

 As a family, the Jacquins were able to raise over $3500 and we are very grateful to all of our contributors.  In Longmeadow, the Fire Department, who are all so kind to Laura, raised $200 in donations even though they are gearing up for the “Pass the Boot” fundraiser this summer for the MDA Telethon coming up on Labor Day weekend.  Longmeadow High School contributed $455, thanks to the support of Mike Rosemond, Kimberly Buescher, and the LHS Key Club, advised by Vesta Browne, who generously donated $300 out of their funds raised throughout the year.  Thanks to Thoma Miller and the teachers at Glenbrook Middle School, $438 in donations was raised in support of the MDA. 

 
Laura Beth (center) with friends and Munroe

 So many of our friends from the Longmeadow area and Connecticut came out in support of TEAM LAURA.  Much thanks goes to Anne and Hank Drapalski, Beth Hoff, and the Longmeadow High School Key Club, who all contributed their time to make sure the Great Walk was a well organized event.  Many of our good friends raised hundreds of dollars in donations and walked with us.

We would like to especially thank Pam May and her family and friends who raised close to $500.  Once again Dan, Jeanie, and the Kolb family were one of TEAM LAURA’s biggest supporters (Jeannie’s buttons with Laura’s picture were great), raising over $1500!  Once again, Hal, Lori, and Max Haberman were the largest fundraisers for TEAM LAURA.  This year they contributed donations of over $5000!    

 John & Patricia Jacquin - June 2003 

 
Laura Beth (second from right) with friends at the 2^nd Annual MDA Great Walk