Honoring 6-year old Sam Killian
DALLAS, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mayor Tom Leppert, by written proclamation, declared October 25, 2008 to be Sam's Family Fun Day, after 6-year old resident Sam Killian who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne). The proclamation also honors Sam's parents, John Killian, Chairman of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest non-profit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), and his wife Stefanie Killian. The 4th Annual Sam's Family Fun Day (Sam's Day) on October 25, 2008 from 10am to 2pm on Flagpole Hill at White Rock Lake.
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Sam's Day was started in October 2005 by the Killian's financial advisor and close personal friend, Chris Messick, CFP, a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. Sam's Day is a free, family-friendly event with bounce houses, a bungee rope run, train rides, clowns, face painters, magicians, and great food, including Chic-Fil-A. This year Sam's Day includes entertainment from Radio Disney, the number one, twenty-four hour radio network in the country for kids and Superstar Express. The event will feature a silent auction that will include items such as a TX Motor Speedway VIP Package, autographed memorabilia from 2008 Summer Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte, and Dallas Stars Suite tickets.
Mayor Leppert's proclamation reads: "Sam lights up any room he is in with his energy, humor and warmth; Sam's excitement and love of life is the inspiration for what has become known as simply Sam's Day..." The proclamation continues: "the Killian family is remarkable, turning what could have destroyed a family, into something that has made them an incredibly strong family unit."
While an inexpensive way for a whole family to have a great time, Sam's Day has also created awareness about Duchenne and, says Stefanie Killian, "given families an opportunity to talk to their own children about what it means to face adversity in life, and to talk about accepting people with different physical and mental abilities."
Duchenne, the most common form of childhood muscular dystrophy, is a progressive and fatal muscle disorder affecting boys and young men that causes the loss of muscle function, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function.
"When Sam was diagnosed with Duchenne in early 2005 and Chris suggested that we have a fair to raise money and awareness, we thought he was crazy and knew that no one would come," says John Killian. "Last year we had over 700 people attend and since starting we have raised over $250,000 for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy."
It is just this kind of success that got the attention of the Mayor. Mayor Leppert writes in the proclamation, "...the city of Dallas commends the Killian family, and especially Sam, for their tireless devotion to promoting awareness and working to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy which serves as an inspiration to the residents of our great city."
To find out more about the 4th Annual Sam's Family Fun Day, visit www.samsdaytexas.org.
About PPMD
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The organization's mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy through research, advocacy, education and compassion. PPMD is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio with offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.parentprojectmd.org.
SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
