Bulldog Staff To Support "Coach To Cure MD"
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football
coaching staff will join an important national cause once again by
helping support "Coach to Cure MD" during this Saturday's (Sept.
25) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) home
contest versus Tiffin at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids,
Mich. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (EDT).
The entire Bulldog coaching staff, including head coach
Jeff Pierce, will join thousands of others from
the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) by wearing "Coach
to Cure" MD arm patches for the game.
"Coach to Cure MD", a national charity project of the AFCA,
helps bring coaches nationwide together from all levels of
collegiate football to raise awareness and research funding for
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most prolific genetic killer
diagnosed in childhood. This year marks the third year of the
nationwide program.
"Coach to Cure MD" is a tremendous cause for the sport of college
football," said Grant Teaff, executive director of the AFCA and
legendary former coach at Baylor University. "The coaches' support
during the last two seasons has been outstanding, and we aim for
even more success this year. The AFCA is proud to be involved in
such an important effort."
AFCA members will wear the "Coach to Cure MD" logo patch on the
sidelines and college football fans are asked to donate to research
projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the
largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on this
disease.
Football fans can donate to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research
throughout the Sept. 25 contests by going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by
texting the word "CURE" to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically
be added to your next phone bill and standard text message rates
apply).
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic
disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys
across all races and cultures. Boys and young men with this
disorder develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes
loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a decline in
respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure
and limited therapeutic options exist.
Last year, over 5,200 college coaches from 351 schools
participated in the "Coach to Cure MD" event, which is sponsored
nationally by the financial service firm TIAA-CREF. Families
affected with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will also gather for
fundraising tailgate parties on campuses around the country to help
encourage more fans to get involved.
In additon to the Bulldog staff, thousands of other coaches across
the country will also take part in Saturday's important cause,
including coaches such as Texas' Mack Brown, Jim Tressel of Ohio
State and Dick Tomey, former president of the AFCA and a national
spokesperson for the project.
"The Coach to Cure MD program is in line with the core values of
college football," said Mount Union (Ohio) head coach Larry Kehres,
who is the current president of the AFCA. "We believe we can raise
millions of dollars to support this crucial effort. Help us in the
fight to end Duchenne."
The financial service firm TIAA-CREF has signed on again this year
as the national sponsor and will donate air-time on September 25th
for a Coach to Cure MD commercial featuring football legends, Jim
Tressel and Rich Rodriguez.
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and is considered the primary
professional association for football coaches at all levels of
competition. The 10,000-member organization includes more than 90
percent of head coaches at the 700-plus schools that sponsor
football at the college level. Members include coaches from Europe,
Canada, Australia, Japan and Mexico.
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national
not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children
with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The
organization's mission is to improve the treatment, quality
of life and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by
Duchenne muscular dystrophy through research, advocacy, education
and compassion. PPMD is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio with
offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
For more information, please visit:
www.CoachtoCureMD.org
