Dayton Flyers

Sept. 4, 2006

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

Dayton players joined with coaches to take donations from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to help in the fight against MDA.

"The ideals of our program match the Marianist mission of the University, which is to give back to those who do not have the same opportunities as we do," Head Coach Tony Vittorio said. "It is one of the goals of our program to be unselfish and return the good deeds that so many others have given to us over the years."

The Flyers also presented the MDA with a donation of $1,170 from money collected at weekend home games throughout the 2006 season. That total was boosted by $410 collected at UD's doubleheader at Wright State on May 2 in honor of Vittorio's mother who passed away last year after a battle with ALS. In addition, $2,500 was donated by Flyer fan David Barth for a total of $3,670.

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 (344-4683) or log on to www.mda.org.