Boy with CMT supported by peers as Ambassador for MDA

February 13, 2009

Ambassador supported by peers

Written by McCauley

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Paola Middle School sixth-grader Bastarache was enjoying

Monday's pep assembly with the rest of his classmates when he started

to get the feeling something was up.

" Is that my dad? " he thought to himself as he glanced down the front

row of bleachers in the Paola Middle School auditorium.

Then he saw Hills, health care coordinator for the Muscular

Dystrophy Association, grab a microphone and stand up in front of the

crowd of students.

" Why is she here? " thought , who has spent the past four

summers with Hills during a Muscular Dystrophy Association camp.

Hills announced that , a quiet-mannered 13-year-old, has been

named the Local Goodwill Ambassador for the Missouri Valley Chapter

of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. knew of his honor, but

he had no idea he would be recognized at the pep assembly. He also

didn't know his parents, and Debra Bastarache, and his aunt,

Cheryl Doty, would be there to witness it all.

" I almost spilled the beans yesterday, " said Doty, who was wiping

away tears when walked to the center of the auditorium during

a lengthy standing ovation from his classmates.

" Way to go, , " one classmate shouted.

The humble sixth-grader was speechless during the recognition, but he

later spoke about his surprise.

" I did not know that was going to happen, " he said with a smile.

's condition has been diagnosed as Charcot-Marie Tooth

Disease, which is one of the muscle diseases covered by the Muscular

Dystrophy Association's research and care programs.

As a local goodwill ambassador, will make public appearances

throughout the community to encourage volunteers in the association's

year-round educational and fund-raising campaigns and will also take

part in a number of the chapter's special events, according to a news

release.

" We are very proud of and everything that he has done and

everything that he will do, " Hills said during the assembly.

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