About MDA

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is a volunteer-based health organization founded in 1950 striving to put an end to neuromuscular diseases through international research, widespread services and extensive professional and public health education. MDA stands as the largest nongovernmental support for neuromuscular disease research. Individual and private voluntary contributions fund almost all of MDA’s programs and activities allowing the organization to offer its services at no cost.

Neuromuscular diseases affect more than one million Americans; 250,000 of whom have some form of muscular dystrophy. MDA covers over 40 neuromuscular diseases including nine forms of muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), myasthenia gravis, spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and others. MDA’s services include an annual kids summer camp, over 225 hospital-affiliated clinics, 37 MDA/ALS centers, research grants to about 400 teams of scientists and medical researchers, MDA support groups, public and professional health education programs, and other assistance for families and people affected by neuromuscular diseases.

MDA would like to thank all the individuals and sponsors whose generosity make it possible for MDA to continue international research programs, nationwide programs that help those with neuromuscular diseases and their families, and special community fundraising events.