The Muscular Dystrophy Association Hop-A-Thon is springing to life inside Tyner United Methodist Church Preschool as 43 students prep to hop to help drop muscular dystrophy from the list of incurable conditions March 13 and 15.
Students and their parents are signing up interested sponsors to pay $5 or $10 as a flat donation. Funds raised will support curing muscular dystrophy and related diseases by funding worldwide research. Muscular dystrophy is a disease where the muscles of the body get weaker and weaker, and can eventually result in paralysis or death.
Tyner United Methodist Church Preschool students in the 3-year-old class hop in class to prepare for the Muscular Dystrophy Association Hop-A-Thon. Students will hop throughout the preschool March 13 and 15 to raise money for MDA."This is our first MDA Hop-A-Thon; we thought it would be a great way to give back to the community," said Tyner UMC Preschool Director Christine Morkert. "On March 13 and 15 we will let students hop to Spanish, hop to the restroom and hop to recess."
Students ranging from age 1 to 4 will hop everywhere they go inside the school for the two-day Hop-A-Thon MDA event. Hops throughout each day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be totaled up to cumulatively identify the number of hops per child.
Morkert estimates that each child could end up with 100 hops. She said the goal is to raise at least $500 for MDA.
"We are happy to raise awareness, acceptance and assistance for MDA," said Morkert. "We thought the Hop-A-Thon is a great program for students that love to hop. The teachers will hop with them and count as they go. It will help with counting skills too."
She said she feels it is important to teach her students about being aware of different types of disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, that can be found in other children. She said she wants them to be thankful for their healthy bodies.
"We are asking all children to hop with us regardless if they have any sponsors," said Morkert. "However, we would like to be able to give a nice donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association on behalf of Tyner UMC Preschool kids."
Students will receive a sticker that says "I used my muscles to hop for MDA," an activity booklet and a certificate of recognition.