MDA ”Lock-Up” at Bertucci’s Restaurant in Longmeadow, MA

December 11, 2003 
The Longmeadow community came out to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during the Holiday Lock-Up at Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in Longmeadow, MA.  More than $23,000 was raised on December 11^th by local business and community leaders who went “behind bars” in the MDA’s Maximum-Appreciation Facility.  The “Lock-Up” was a special event organized by the Western Massachusetts branch of the MDA, located in Longmeadow, MA.  Prominent members of the community are taken to “jail” (Bertucci’s) to raise “bail” (donations) for their release.  Laura Beth Jacquin, the local MDA Goodwill Ambassador, helped host the event. 

The MDA is a “voluntary health organization and dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering neuro-muscular diseases that affect more than one million Americans.”  Donations to the MDA fund research to determine why people get muscular diseases such as amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) or Friedreich’s Ataxia, and find methods to cure them.  The MDA also uses the funds to provide services such as health examinations, provide medical supplies, and camps for kids suffering from different forms of the disease.  

Two members of Longmeadow High School, Dean of Students and LHS Key Club coordinator Vesta Browne, and Secretary to the assistant Principal Carol Garvey, agreed to participate in the event.  Their goal was to raise awareness and donations for the MDA, support Laura Beth Jacquin, a junior at LHS, and to remember Joe Winseck, a popular LHS history teacher who died from Lou Gehrig’s disease three years ago.  “You can see how important something like this really is to Laura,” stated Browne.  “The whole project is very close to the school, which is why we are doing it.  There really is a connection everyone can feel, and a strong reason for them to give back with charity.”  “My goal is to get a dollar from every person in this school,” said Garvey.  Browne vowed to raise more than Garvey and a heated rivalry ensued.  Together, they raised over $2,300 from LHS.  “I’m really glad the school has gotten involved,” said Jacquin, who was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia when she was eleven.  “I had to stop dancing, couldn’t do gymnastics, or sports anymore.  I really couldn’t do a lot of things I wanted to do.”    

As the local Goodwill Ambassador, Jacquin speaks at MDA fundraising events.  “I thank organizations for raising money, like at golf tournaments and boot drives at Fire Stations,” says Jacquin.  Longmeadow Fire Chief Eric Madison and his department are strong supporters of Laura Beth and the MDA.  This summer they worked together to “Fill the Boot” for the MDA, with donations being presented during the annual MDA Telethon over Labor Day weekend.  Madison and Father Larry Provenzano of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and also the Longmeadow Firefighters Chaplain, also had a rivalry to out-do each other in raising donations for the MDA.  Rumor has it that Fr. Larry won this contest but not by much.  Overall, the event was considered “a great success” for the MDA, confirmed program coordinator Stephanie Chell of the Western Massachusetts MDA district office. 

 Some excerpts and quotes for this article from the Longmeadow News, December 4 & 18, 2003 editions, and The Jet Jotter of LHS, Volume XLVIII, No. 5.