Sept. 2, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio - The 2009 Flyer baseball team volunteered its time on Monday at the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Telethon held at the Nutter Center.

Flyer baseball has been a participant in the MDA telethon for the last nine years and helped the Miami Valley chapter raise more than $650,000 Monday. The team also raised $500 during weekend games at Time Warner Cable Stadium.

"One of our goals, as well as the Marianist mission of the University, is to give back to those who are less fortunate than us," UD head coach Tony Vittorio said "It is very humbling to be able to give back to those who have not had the same opportunities as us."

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency - a dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans.

MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. With national headquarters in Tucson, MDA has more than 200 offices across the country, sponsors 230 hospital-affiliated clinics and supports nearly 400 research projects around the world.

MDA supports more research on neuromuscular diseases than any other private-sector organization in the world. MDA scientists are in the forefront of gene therapy research and have uncovered the genetic defects responsible for several forms of muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), childhood spinal muscular atrophy, and several other neuromuscular conditions.

Those wishing to make a donation to the MDA are asked to call 1-800-FIGHTMD (344-4863) or log on to www.mda.org.