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Tomahawk Ride Key Fundraiser For Northwoods MDA Families

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Thousands of motorcycles are arriving in Tomahawk and the Northwoods this weekend, as the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Fall Ride is underway.

Bri Lodel is the Executive Director for the Green Bay MDA office. The event is held in Tomahawk which has a Harley-Davidson production facility and the Milwaukee-based motorcycle firm has been a long-time MDA supporter. Lodel says the Fall Ride is the single largest fundraisers for MDA in the Northwoods. She says the money services Northwoods families that are battling a neuromuscular disease.

She outlines other places the funds go...

"....seven different MDA Care Centers across Wisconsin. Any person registered with MDA with a neuromuscular disease has the opportunity to be seen by one of our neurologists at one of those seven different institutions. What's unique about these Care Centers. It's a 'one stop shop' filled with a multi-disciplinary clinic team of different physicians and specialists there to meet the needs of our patients...."

She says the funds also support MDA Summer Camps in Wisconsin for kids between 6 and 17. Lodel says for one week, the youth afflicted with one of the 43 diseases classified as being a neuromuscular disease gets to experience camp life. She says they also have MDA support groups and a national resource center.

Lodel says the funds donated are making a difference...

"....there have been three drugs approved by the FDA in the last year. Those drugs were funded by MDA. We're really happy and excited about that. There's more drugs expected in the next five years than the last fifty years combined. It is a very exciting and hopeful time at MDA and we're looking to keep that going....."

She says there are many ways to support the effort at Sara Park in Tomahawk through the weekend.

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