National Volunteer Month doesn’t start until April, but we couldn’t wait a day longer to pay tribute to the CMTA’s extraordinary volunteers, the lifeblood of our organization.
CMTA volunteers share every skill set imaginable. They hold walks and fundraisers, moderate online groups and teach campers how to take care of their feet, chair-dance and support each other. They write stories for the newsletter, staff our help desk and provide graphic design. They also provide crucial information to the researchers trying to cure CMT, taking part in clinical trials, filling out surveys and signing up for our Patients as Partners in Research initiative. Because of space limitations, we can only feature a few of our volunteers. But we see and celebrate each and every one.
In other news, you’ll read about our most recent research projects involving HSN1, Type 2, neurofilaments and SORD Deficiency. Rounding out the issue, you’ll find a thorough explanation of the pulmonary complications of CMT, two tales of parenting with CMT and a review of “Walk a Mile in My Braces,” the new book written by CMTA Youth.
Finally, we are thrilled to tell you that for the third year in a row, Charity Navigator has awarded the CMTA its highest 4-Star rating, indicating that the CMTA “outperforms most other charities in America.”