Staff Report
Manny Gore, a bright and endearing four-year-old from Brandon, has been named the 2014 Florida Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
As the new Goodwill Ambassador, Gore will make public appearances throughout the community to encourage volunteers in the association’s year-round educational and fundraising campaigns and will also take part in a number of the special events.
Manny is the son of Beth and Dan Gore. Manny’s condition was diagnosed as Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy at the age of two. Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy is one of the muscle diseases covered by MDA’s research and care programs.
Although Manny utilizes a wheelchair for mobility, he has a great love of firefighters and police officers. He enjoys playing Angry Birds on his iPad and playing with his five siblings. Manny and his family have appeared at many MDA events, speaking on behalf of the Association and providing awareness of Merison Deficiency.
Manny’s mother, Beth said, “For 2013, Manny was the honorary local Goodwill Ambassador and he was asked to represent the MDA at local events and such. Like last year, we had a walk at Raymond James Stadium. When we were at the walk, I had never been so aware of my legs. Someone asked why I walk and it hit me, I walk because some people can’t.”
Manny and his family recently participated in this year’s Muscle Walk at Raymond James Stadium to raise funds and awareness. The funds raised from the walk are earmarked for various things like sending the local kids to the summer camp. It’s a week where kids can just be kids and they say, “It’s the best week of their lives.”
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading non-profit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research, by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement. For more information, visit www.mda.org and follow facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews.
To follow Manny’s story through his mom’s blog, visit http://destinyshousechurch.blogspot.com/.
