Making a Muscle, Making a Difference

If you have been something of a long time reader of COAS, you'll know the ties my family has to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For eleven-plus years now we've been doing everything we can to help my brother Logan in his fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Today was one of the big days every year.

Whether it's been at the Naperville Riverwalk, Brookfield Zoo, the United Center or most recently Soldier Field, for years my family has raised money as we walk for Logan. Today we were along the lakefront for another installment.

It was, as always, a festive atmosphere. The Chicago Bears Drumline was in attendance today, and a lot of teams dressed up for the occasion as well. The most impressive was Costumers With a Cause, where a group of people dressed up as various TV and movie characters.

But I think one of the best things about this year's walk was the team we had assembled. We had quite a few family friends that made the trip to join us, but Logan's most recent family was also there. 

Logan started high school back in August, but rather than follow in my footsteps and attend Aurora Christian, he ended up at Aurora Central Catholic, and they've done a decent job of accommodating him. During the fall we found out that ACC's football team was participating in Coach to Cure MD, a program that many high schools and colleges do to help fight muscular dystrophy. It's something they've done for a few years, but they'd never had a face to the cause... until this year.

My dad got in touch with head coach Brian Casey, who told the team, and Logan was officially brought on board. He wore #3 for the Chargers and was on the sideline for the stretch run that included a huge win over rival Marmion and a trip to the IHSA playoffs. Most importantly, the team really took him in as one of their own. And today, four of his friends from the ACC football team along with Coach Casey joined us for the walk.

Thank you to everyone who donated to our team, as we successfully raised about $3500 to help MDA, and contributed to a grand total of over $236,000! Thank you also to everyone who has passed along well wishes or kept us in your prayers. Logan's muscles may be weak, but his spirit remains ever strong.

Make a Muscle, Make a Difference!

Walking For a Cause... Or Two

All of us at times in our lives put down all distractions and fight for causes we believe in. We may raise money to fight terrible diseases or to attack injustices towards others. While much of my time here on COAS is spent talking about sports and maybe a little towards fighting for justice and equality (...okay, maybe just because I want a college football playoff), there are times I want to take a step back and look at more important issues in society and share with you the things I fight for.

I've talked on here a couple times about my brother, Logan, who continues his fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It's a daily battle to help him out with things he can no longer physically do, knowing the rough road that lies ahead for him. That's why, whenever the opportunity arises, I join with my family to help in Logan's fight and the fight of many other children affected by various forms of neuromuscular disease. The fundraiser most people know of is the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, that has downsized tremendously in recent years, but there are many other events that the Muscular Dystrophy Association holds to raise money for research, medical care, and their summer camps that Logan says is his favorite week of the year.

On Saturday, April 6, I will join with my family and friends, as well as many other families affected by neuromuscular disease at Soldier Field for the 2013 MDA Muscle Walk. We will do a 5K that morning as we fight for kids like Logan who need our help.

"I have watched Logan have trouble maintaining his balance and fall.  I have watched him struggle to climb a flight of stairs.  I have watched him lose the ability to do so many things that most of us take for granted.  And I have watched him become fully dependent on a wheelchair because his muscles no longer have the strength to support his body weight.
But I have also watched Logan smile, an infectious smile that is almost always present on his face.  I have watched him assert his independence to continue to do the things that he is still able to do on his own.  My son is determined.  His spirit is strong.  His love of life insurmountable.  And because he can't walk, I WALK FOR HIM!" -Scott Mitzel

If you want to help us in our fight for Logan, you can visit our team page and either sign up to walk with us, or donate however much you are willing and able to give. Every dollar counts, and goes towards helping kids like Logan. Together with us, you can make a muscle... and make a difference.

But while I will be on the lakefront that Saturday morning, a part of me will also be hundreds of miles away to fight for another cause I firmly believe in.

Transcendent Spirit

Huge sports fan that I am, there are some moments that transcend the normal meaning of sports. In middle school one of my teammates in basketball was diagnosed with leukemia and despite playing some in his earlier years at St. Paul's, by 8th grade he was unable to compete. But during our final tournament of the year in Peoria, he started our final game. He was in long enough to receive the opening tip before we called timeout to sub him out. It was a moving moment even for those of us on the bench, who had no idea this was happening (or at least, I didn't.) He passed away about a year and a half later, and much of the St. Paul's community went to his visitation to pay their respects, myself included. I couldn't help but remember this game yesterday as St. Paul's did something quite similar.

Picture from St. Paul's Luther School Facebook page.

Many of you know my family's story, in particular my brother Logan, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2003. For almost 10 years I've watched his ability to move waste away, and he's been wheelchair bound for almost 2 years now. But while his muscles are weak, his heart and his spirit are incredibly strong.

When he was in 5th grade, the St. Paul's soccer coach asked my parents if Logan could be part of the team, and my parents agreed. For the most part Logan served as a manager and de facto cheerleader for his teammates and friends, and even got to play the final minute of that season. He could still walk at that point, but his balance was an issue, and my parents didn't want to risk him getting hurt, so his playing career ended there. Or so I thought.

In the weeks leading up to the end of this season, Coach Steve Drolema was planning a great finale for this team. Yesterday Zion Lutheran from Marengo made the trip out to Aurora for a couple short games to close out our season. In between games, the teams met at midfield for a pregame prayer led by Logan, and knowing about this game in advance, the kids from Marengo all signed a soccer ball to present to Logan with their favorite Bible verses on it.

Then, Logan made his first career start in soccer. He was at midfield to do the opening kickoff to a teammate, who quickly kicked it out of bounds so Logan could be subbed out. Needless to say, he left to a nice round of applause. His kick could not have been any better, right to his teammate.

I played soccer for St. Paul's for 4 years back in the day, and had some great memories of games at Jericho Park in Aurora and on the incredibly shortened field at Cross Lutheran in Yorkville. I scored once in my career, in 7th grade at home against Cross on what is probably my greatest feat of individual athleticism outside of catching any football thrown at or above head level today. Getting to see my brother take the field with his friends yesterday afternoon topped my goal and every moment I had wearing the much different Cougar uniform from back in the day.

My sincere thanks goes out to Coach Drolema and the entire St. Paul's community and staff for coming out to support this, as well as the coach of Zion-Marengo for agreeing to this special moment. And most of all to Logan, for being the ultimate teammate for 4 years and being part of a moment that transcends sport, and showing that his heart and his spirit outshine anything life can throw his way.