Hop A Thon- Loretto Early Childhood Center

Local preschool children of the Loretto Early Childhood Center will hop to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) fight muscle diseases affecting children and adults. “Hoppers” will collect money from family, friends and neighbors for every hop they make during an allotted timed period – typically anywhere from 10 to 150 hops on April 19th & 20th at 11:00am.

The Loretto Early Childhood Center has participated in the MDA Hop-A-Thon for more than nine years. They continue to make this event a successful learning experience for the students by teaching them not only disability awareness, but also that by coming together they can make a big difference one hop at a time. In 2011, the kids raised $1,145, and have set this year’s goal even higher! About 35 students are making a large impact! Over the years the school has already raised a cumulative $4,538 for MDA and still has the momentum to fight back against MD by hopping.

The Hop-a-Thon will take place at the Loretto Early Childhood Center at 1600 Somerset Lane in Wheaton on April 19th and 20th at 11:00am with two different groups of students.

The Hop-a-Thon culminates a week-long disability awareness program in which teachers educate children about muscles, disabilities, diversity, and helping others. Donations raised from the Hop-a-Thon help MDA send more than 60 children with muscular dystrophy from the surrounding area to MDA summer camp at Camp Read Leaf in Ingleside, IL from June 17th-23rd. Funds also assist with repairing wheelchairs and leg braces; fuel worldwide research seeking treatments and cures to more than 40 neuromuscular diseases; and much more.