The VAD Story
Sometimes to be a patient with neuromuscular disease means not being away on vacation. Sometimes it means no opportunity to go out shopping, out to a restaurant or participate in sporting activities such as swimming or baseball. Sometimes, it is nurturing friendships only through letters, emails, or social networking sites. Founded in 1988, Volunteers Assisting the Disabled (VAD) is a non-profit organization devoted to assist with services that the MDA can no longer provide. Services such as ramping a house, the cost of equipment, accessible van repairs and more. Our primary mission is to continue to provide a summer camp program for adults with one of the 40 plus neuromuscular diseases, which was eliminated for patients over 18 years of age by the MDA. VAD felt the need to continue a camp program was strong since most adults cannot afford vacations or weekends away. Camp is one place where everyone can have fun, hang out with friends and participate on equal ground. In addition, many of these adults do not have friends or family who can properly care for their physical needs. Because of this, they are confined to their homes, group homes or nursing homes in which they live. The members of VAD have worked very hard to make this happen. A lot of work goes into preparation all year so that there will be food, lodging, medical staff and equipment, attendants to help with the care, and entertainment for the campers. There is no charge for attending camp. A typical week at camp for 50 campers, plus their attendants and staff, cost VAD approximately $25,000. VAD is not a large organization. Members of VAD are all volunteers. There are no paid employees, board members, or Officers in Volunteers Assisting the Disabled. Members are involved because they care! They believe in what VAD is doing, the service needs that it meets, and the value of what it accomplishes for those with neuromuscular disorders. We are proud to say next year we will be celebrating or 20th year of VAD camp. Through the years, we have been extremely fortunate to have some good people help us raise money for VAD by having car washes, bake sales, candy sales, bowl-a-thons, garage sales, spaghetti dinners, car cruises, chili cook offs, and our largest event, our fall dinner dance. These events, along with contributions from many companies, organizations and personal donations are how VAD has continued to fund the needs of our patients. VAD members spend hundreds of hours each year acquiring donations for VAD. With the help and support from caring individuals like you, we can continue to offer these services to our patients and they can continue to look forward to camp each year.
