2006 – Elisabeth Hunter

Elisabeth Hunter is a 4 ½ year old girl who loves to dress up, swim, sing at the top of her lungs, do arts and crafts, and play with her dog and guinea pig.  She has many friends and attends preschool in Bow.

She also has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD). CMD is an inherited disorder of muscle weakness and breakdown.  It is a progressive disease with an uncertain prognosis.  There is no treatment or cure. Elisabeth was diagnosed at age 1 year when her parents and pediatrician noticed that she was very weak and could not crawl, sit, or walk.  A blood test, and later a muscle biopsy, confirmed the diagnosis of CMD.  Now, at age 4, Elisabeth is a bright, happy girl learning to read and write, but has trouble keeping up with her peers physically.  She cannot walk up stairs, and running and jumping are awkward and exhausting.  She loves to swim because the buoyancy is very freeing.

The Hunter family supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and is deeply appreciative of your interest in and support of the MDA.  Elisabeth is the beneficiary of MDA programs in New Hampshire that are funded by your donation to the Trans NH Bike Ride, such as the MDA Clinic at Dartmouth.  In the future, we look forward to Elisabeth attending MDA summer camp, and we may need MDA help purchasing assistive equipment.  But most importantly, the MDA offers hope through advocacy on behalf of those affected, and funding of research into CMD and other rare neuromuscular conditions.