FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Association partners with online supplement retailer to help fight muscular dystrophy
TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 22, 2013 - The Muscular Dystrophy Association and Bodybuilding.com, the largest online retailer of health and fitness supplements, are teaming up for the 2013 MDA Muscle Walk® season to raise awareness and funds for children and adults affected by neuromuscular disease.
"Bodybuilding.com is proud to help 'Make a Muscle, Make a Difference®' as an official Muscle Walk Presenting Partner," said Ryan DeLuca, CEO of Bodybuilding.com. "We are thrilled to team up with MDA and give our visitors the opportunity to help this cause by putting their muscles behind an inspirational campaign to help support those affected by muscle disease."
People visiting Bodybuilding.com during the 2013 Muscle Walk season can sign up for - or donate to - an event in their area directly through the site. Visitors also can support the campaign by forgoing their free gift upon checkout as part of the site's "Donate to a Cause" section. In return, the Association will receive a $2 donation from any customer who forgoes that incentive.
"We're excited to welcome Bodybuilding.com on board with us as a national partner this Muscle Walk season," said MDA Vice President of Business Development Scarlett Marchman. "Bodybuilding.com is an advocate for building healthy, strong muscles, a theme that certainly fits in with the Association's mission to provide treatments and cures to those affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases."
MDA Muscle Walk is a series of fun, non-competitive local walks held across the country, with events scheduled from mid-January to mid-April. MDA Muscle Walk is the largest event of its kind in the United States, with an estimated 50,000 people registered in more than 160 walks throughout the nation in support of the 2013 campaign.
Last year, the MDA Muscle Walk raised more than $6.2 million, and more than $10 million has been raised since the campaign's inception in 2011. To sign up for, or donate to, an MDA Muscle Walk in your area, please visit walk.mda.org.
BodyBuilding.com, the Internet's most visited sports nutrition and fitness site and the largest online retailer of nutritional supplements offers more than 8,000 health and fitness products to help more than 7.3 million people every month achieve their health, fitness and appearance goals. This online powerhouse gives users more than 34,000 pages of free information, including more than 25,000 articles, 9,000 videos and expert online trainers, with new content added daily. Bodybuilding.com is an official 2013 MDA Muscle Walk Presenting Partner.
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
In addition to funding some 300 research projects worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of 200 medical clinics; facilitates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases; and provides local summer camp opportunities for thousands of youngsters living with progressive muscle diseases.
For more information, visit mda.org and follow MDA on Facebook (facebook.com/MDAnational) and Twitter (@MDAnews).
Contacts:
Roxan Olivas
MDA Vice President — Public Relations
(520) 529-5317
rolivas@mdausa.org
Allison Kim
Public Relations Specialist
(208) 377-3326
allison.kim@bodybuilding.com