MDA Ambassadors ready for telethon

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - A Crawfordsville family is serving as this year's MDA Goodwill ambassadors.
 

 Greg and Laura Nichols and their two children are VIPs at the Crawfordsville Fire Department. "Firemen are fixers. It's what we do, " said firefighter Darren Forman. "We fix medical and fire problems. We can't fix James, despite our best efforts. We can atleast make their lives a little easier."

Forman takes the family on a tour of the firestation. James and his sister Georgana have Congenital Fiber Type Disproportional Myopathy. It's a slowly progressing disease that affects the nerves and muscles.

"Firefighters are very nice," said Georgana. "They are able to help MDA and I really appreciate it."  Georgana smiled when Fireman Forman placed a helmet on her head.

James and his sister Georgana are this year's MDA Goodwill Ambassadors.  "It's good telling people about MDA and how they help people like us," said Georgana. "We are just trying to get the word out so everyone knows it is in your backyard. It's in your school, church and community," said Laura Nichols.

This summer, Georgana fell and broke her leg. James outgrew his leg braces. "He had a bout this summer where he didn't hardly walk at all, because he had outgrown his braces and had trouble getting new ones," said Greg Nichols. He said the Muscular Dystrophy Association stepped in to help pay for new braces. "Now I'm starting to get up, walk the whole house," said James. "I am so happy I can walk now." James' father said James' braces cost $2,500 every six months. "As hard as I work that's not something I can make up real well."

 Firefighter Darren Forman said the MDA provides more than just equipment, it provides hope. "They almost have a cure," said forman. "Scientists can find a cure for one thing, then they can cure another. It kind of snowballs. We are hoping for that one cure."

"It's important if you can give," said Laura Nichols. "Whether it is a $1, $2, $3. It helps child go to camp that otherwise can't. It helps buy braces, wheelchairs, research and other things we are not even award of. It's a big organization and it does a lot of good."

   You can watch this year's M-D-A telethon right here on WLFI.
Coverage begins Sunday at 8:00p.m. and continues until 6:30 p.m. Monday.