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Awareness events held for rare medical conditions affecting Central Texans

by Adam Shear

WACO - Hundreds of Central Texans spent their Saturday afternoons showing their support for two rare medical conditions affecting local children.

The two events were held on opposite sides of the city, but both were trying to spread a similar message to bring attention to the diseases.

The Central Christian Church, off of Lake Shore Dr., held a picnic to further educate people on the rare condition known as Craniofacial Disorder. The disorder creates deformities in the skulls and requires those effected to receive several surgeries throughout their lives.

"Behind every face is a heart," said Kristin Jack, Central Christian Associate Minister. "Regardless of what their abilities, or their disabilities might be, they are still a beloved child of god."

At the Harley Davidson Dealership, off of I-35 south, hundreds gathered for the Make a Muscle chili cook-off to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

"It means so much [for people to come out]. It means help and hope to more than 200 families in Central Texas that are served by MDA," said Kristen Wheeler, Central Texas MDA. "We send kids age 6-17 to MDA summer camp, and we have clinics where they can go, and of course we're funding research to find treatments and cures."

While both events drew big crowds, who all got some quality education, and food, at the end of the day it was the children suffering from those disorders at the events who were the real winners.

"It's great that people want to support MDA so much," said Cody Schoppe, diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. "It helps with all kinds of stuff."