Wednesday, June 24, 2009

MDA Cancels Remainder of Nationwide Summer Camp Program to Protect Children From Swine Flu

TUCSON, Ariz., June 19, 2009 - Due to overriding concern for the health and safety of Jerry’s Kids, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced today that it is immediately canceling the remainder of its annual summer camp program because of the H1N1 virus.

“These children are much more vulnerable because of their weakened respiratory muscles, so we are taking this preemptive action to protect them from possible exposure to the swine flu,” said Dr. Valerie Cwik, MDA medical director.

Approximately 1,800 children have attended 33 MDA summer camps in the past month, with another 2,500 scheduled to attend the remaining 47 camps that have now been canceled. An equal number of volunteer counselors also attend each camp.

Out of 1,800 children who’ve attended MDA camps this year, 11 cases of swine flu were reported after the children left camp. Six suspected cases have been reported at the MDA Summer Camp in Worcester, Pa., which ends tomorrow.

One child from the Pennsylvania camp has been hospitalized and is in stable condition. Another child, who attended camp in Utah, was hospitalized, treated and released. In Minnesota, 10 cases of swine flu were reported after camp ended there June 12.

On Friday, MDA conferred with officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, who concurred with the decision to cancel the camps as being “the prudent thing to do” based on the fact that these children are at such high risk for complications from the flu virus.

All children registered for camp as well as camp counselors, medical staff, paramedics and other volunteers are screened for any possible exposure to swine flu, as recommended by the CDC. Some volunteers were turned away based on this screening. However, a person may be infected with the virus and be contagious before actual symptoms appear, according to Cwik.

MDA mobilized its entire staff nationwide today to notify family members and volunteer counselors concerning the decision to cancel the camps.

“We know how much summer camp means to Jerry’s Kids and their families who look forward to this happy week all year long. But with 11 confirmed cases and six suspected cases in three states, we can’t risk the health of the children who would be attending the camps,” said Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA president and CEO. “We have an obligation to the parents of these children to ensure that safety is our top priority.”

The MDA summer camp program began in 1955 with one camp in New Jersey. Today, it serves more than 4,300 children.

About MDA

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat muscular dystrophy and related diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, advocacy and far-reaching professional and public health education.



- MDA -

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

R.A.D. Karaoke Wheel of Death (tm) August 15th, 2009

Rock Against Dystrophy has teamed up with THOR radio to present the Karaoke Wheel of Death (tm).

Come out to spin and sing for a great cause!

$10 cover; all proceeds benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association

We will have door prizes:
t-shirts, CDs, etc

FREE FOOD

and raffles:

a 50/50,

a gift certificate to Natural Balance Spa,

and, last but not least,

an autographed guitar, signed by ALL members of:
Odd Zero
Borgo Pass
Black Water Rising
Misery
Martyrd
and
God's Green Earth

So come down, take a chance, spin the Wheel, and sing for a great cause!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

6/17/09 Update on my brother Jay

Not too much to say. Jay is still in the hospital and is slowly being weened off the vent. He's getting rest and any remaining infections should be gone soon. Keep him in your thoughts as its working gang.

oddSTAR needs your votes

oddSTAR is competing for a spot at this years Bele Chere Festival!


WNC Magazine is looking for the "Last Band Standing" and we wanna BE THAT BAND!

Please help us win!!
Just visit the link below to place your vote for oddSTAR!!!
You can vote once a day until June 24th!

http://www.wncmagazine.com/lastbandstanding

Finalists will battle head-to-head @ The Orange Peel July 8th, and the winner gets to play @ Bele Chere!

Core Effect needs your votes

They need your help to win the 89x I'm with the band contest!!! Please visit the link below it takes 2 seconds to cast a vote. There's no time consuming sign ups just simply click on the link below and cast your vote for Core Effect :-)

You can vote once per day everyday until Thursday!
http://www.myspace.com/89ximwiththeband

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Update for 6/10/09...i gotta start naming these things again

I know, I was MIA for another week. I finished my meds last week and kicked whatever it was fighting me then. But I can't ditch this fuckin' cough, it's most likely my allergies and my asthma. It has eased greatly so I should hopefully be back on regularly.

My brother Jay is doing better,, he's out of ICU and the pneumonia is gone. He is back in the respiratory step-down unit. He is on a vent but is being weened off it slowly. Things are moving forward with him so keep up the support.

I am seriously behind on my music. Big albums are out that I haven't gotten my hands on because I haven't been out since my bro has been sick. Plus the bands are growing in my list of friends and I love that there is so much great rock and metal out there. To the bands on my friends who read this please e-mail me at turbopromotions@gmail.com or message me through Myspace with anything you want me to promote for you. It's getting tough keeping track of everything as a one man gig but I shall do so, rock and metal is who I am.

I'm going to try to put some thoughts up soon as well as a few reviews that I've been meaning to write before things got nuts. Any bands that want me to review the CD just contact me and I'll tell you where to send it.

That's all for right now, keep rockin'.