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Old 01-10-2008, 02:25 PM #1
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Join Date: Aug 2006
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Ribbon Muscular dystrophy cure sought in Crystal Ball

Muscular dystrophy cure sought in Crystal Ball
Posted to: Health and Fitness Virginia Beach
Want to go? Seventh annual Crystal Ball

The Virginian-Pilot
© January 10, 2008
By Cindy Butler Focke



When Linda Fox-Jarvis dreams about the future, she hopes for a cure for muscular dystrophy.

Seven years ago, Fox-Jarvis launched the popular winter gala/dinner dance dubbed The Crystal Ball to raise money to find a cure for devastating, muscle-wasting neuromuscular diseases.

This year's event, Jan. 26 at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, has a goal of $240,000 to help the fight against ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, and muscular dystroph y.

Fox-Jarvis recalled eight years ago when her then-15-year-old son, Brian Jarvis, a student at Cape Henry Collegiate School, was diagnosed with a type of muscular dystrophy called "limb-girdle, " which mostly affects muscles around the hips and shoulders.

"I was shocked there was no cure, no treatment to slow it down," said Fox-Jarvis, a Great Neck residents.

She decided, "If I can't fix him, I'm going to raise the money to search for a cure."

The long-time real-estate agent solicited help of family and friends to coordinate the first gala in 2002. It raised $117,000.

Brian Jarvis, a computer engineer in Fairfax, called the gala "a family-driven event" and spoke proudly of his sister's connection to the cause. Stephanie Jarvis, 20, a biology major at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, interned last summer with Dr. Eric Hoffman of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., after meeting him when he spoke at one of the galas.

"It was so worthwhile. I trained with researchers as they examined the muscle biopsies to diagnose muscular dystrophy," said Stephanie Jarvis, who plans to pursue a career in health care.

Jan Johnson, district director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, said her association's focus is research.

"There are 43 different types of MD, including ALS, and no cure for any of this," she noted.

The most common type of muscular dystrophy is "duchenne," which affects boys around the age of 3, Johnson said. By 7 to 10, these boys are confined to wheelchairs.

"It pulls at your heartstring to see kids in wheelchairs at the age of 5," said Fox-Jarvis.

She added, "It's truly a race against time," she added, because many do not survive past their early 20s.

Johnson said the black-tie Crystal Ball is one of the association's most successful events.

The gala will i nclude cocktails, dinner, casino games, music by the live band Savannah, and silent and live auctions. Auction items are still needed, plus tickets and unique sponsorship packages remain available.

"We have come so far in just six short years," said Fox-Jarvis.

Last year's proceeds of $214,000 helped the event's cumulative total to surpass $1 million.

The Crystal Ball "gives all of us hope," Fox-Jarvis said.


http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/musc...t-crystal-ball
Cindy Butler Focke, butler496@aol.com
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