Serving time to help Jerry’s Kids

About 30 volunteers turned themselves in for lockup, to help children through the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
‘They do good work,? said Pastor Tom Miller, an “inmate” from First General Baptist Church in Waterford. ‘It’s for a good cause.?
Limosines stand in for paddy wagons and Outback Steakhouse restaurant played the part of a jail, as volunteers plied their rolodexes for donations.
Marlene Campbell of Holly, general manager for Wendy’s restaurant on Dixie Highway, volunteered to be locked up for the past four years.
‘I like to help people,? Campbell said. ‘This is a fun thing to do. It makes me feel good. I bring the phone book and my work numbers.?
The annual lock-up funds free health clinics, research, and summer camps for “Jerry’s Kids.”
‘We try to raise funds locally to serve people locally,? said Jennifer Chandonnet, program coordinator for MDA. ‘It’s fantastic. This is the most rewarding part of this job, people in the community working together to raise funds.?
Researchers have developed treatment for one of 43 neuromuscular diseases, and are close on a few others, Chandonnet said.
‘We want to be unemployed,? she said.
For more information, check www.mda.org.
? Phil Custodio