By Hollyrock Miller
Former NFL Football Star Lends A Hand to Ryan’s Quest
Hamilton, NJ March 19, 2010—New York Giants legend Jessie Armstead, co-owner of Hamilton Honda ponsored this year’s Ryan’s Quest Charitable Golf Outing and Auction which took place on April 29, 2010 at Mercer Oaks Golf Course in Mercer County. In addition to Armstead, several other former and current professional athletes and dignitaries including Hamilton Mayor John F. Bencivengo participated both on the links, and for photos and autographs, and during the auction/dinner.
Ryan’s Quest is a local organization founded by Hamilton residents David and Maria Schultz on behalf of their son Ryan and thousands of other young children stricken with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal disorder for which there is no cure or treatment.
DMD is a severe form of Muscular Dystrophy characterized by rapid progression of muscle degeneration, eventually leading to loss of ambulation and death. This affliction affects one in 3,500 males, making it the most prevalent of muscular dystrophies.
Symptoms usually appear in male children before age 5 and may be visible in early infancy. Progressive muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis associated with a loss of muscle mass is observed first. Eventually this weakness spreads to the arms, neck, and other areas. As the condition progresses, muscle tissue experiences wasting and is eventually replaced by fat and fibrotic tissue. By age 10, braces may be required to aid in walking but most patients are wheelchair dependent by age 12. Due to progressive deterioration of muscle, loss of movement occurs eventually leading to paralysis. The average life expectancy for patients afflicted with DMD varies from late teens to early to mid 20s. There have been reports of a few DMD patients surviving to the age of 40, but this is extremely rare.
Mr. Schultz, who is a police officer in Hamilton, met Mr. Armstead and Hamilton Honda co-owner Michael Saporito when he visited their showroom. When learning about Ryan’s Quest and DMD, they both wanted to help. “One hundred percent of the funds raised by Ryan’s Quest goes to medical research,” says Armstead. “We are going to do our part to further help fund this research and to raise much needed awareness for this disease which is the number one killer of children worldwide, yet is so overlooked. Our goal is to make this not just another fundraiser but a blockbuster event that all involved will remember.”
“The response for this great cause has been phenomenal. American Honda Motors, Auto Trader, First Choice Bank and Princeton advertising agency Hollyrock/Miller all stepped up.,” says Saporito. “
According to the Schultz’s in a statement on their website, “We see hope for a future of support … where family, friends, community members and legislators will rally behind these young boys and fight this disease. We hope for a future of opportunity … that Ryan and other boys affected by Duchenne will succeed in what life has to offer. We see hope for a future of enlightenment … that others will learn to value each minute of life as a precious gift! The small things really do not matter.
We see hope for a future of good judgment … that decisions will be made in the best interests of these boys.
We see hope for a future of discovery … that a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will be found. As parents of a child with DMD, there are two things that help us to face and fight this disease for our son Ryan … the happiness we see in his smile and the hope we see in his eyes.”
For details visit www.ryansquest.org.
