North Judson Woman Walking to Raise Funds for MDA

Melissa Bogart (right), mother Pam Bogart (middle), and niece Adilyn Howard (left).
Melissa Bogart (right), mother Pam Bogart (middle), and niece Adilyn Howard (left).
To honor the memory of her father who passed away from muscular dystrophy, Melissa Bogart of North Judson will be walking at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association event to raise money for research that, hopefully, can one day control or even cure the life-threatening disease.

Bogart’s father, Neil William Bogart, passed away from the effects of muscular dystrophy at the age of 56, and Bogart is honoring his memory by walking at the event held at Coveleski Stadium. A customer service representative at IU Health Starke Hospital said it was difficult watching Neil cope with an illness that was not well-understood. Bogart herself has also been diagnosed with the disease but it has not prevented her from living her life, as she works a full-time job and raises her family as a single parent of two.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association was founded in 1950, and is now one of the world’s leading nonprofit health organizations as they fund research, healthcare, and support services for more than 40 neuromuscular diseases that affect more than one million Americans.

While a significant number of diseases the MDA is interested in are genetic, Bogart said she has had her daughter examined and the tests came back good – she appears to be healthy and is not expected to develop the disease. She said she’s hopeful that her son will have similar results.

Bogart and other members of her family recently undertook the mission of raising money for the walk and held a bake sale to raise funds and promote awareness for muscular dystrophy. The sale raised $400, and Bogart said she will present those funds to the MDA on the day of the event.