Fundraiser Games Event for MDA Goes Live on Twitch This Saturday
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is hosting a one-day games streaming fundraiser, dubbed “MDA Rivals,” this Saturday, June 18.
The event, streaming on MDA’s Twitch channel, will feature stars from MDA Let’s Play — a platform that aims to raise funds for MDA and awareness about muscular dystrophy and related conditions through gaming. The Let’s Play platform is active year-round, including hosting weekend game nights on Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET.
MDA Rivals will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. Professional streamers and people from the neuromuscular disease community will be streaming themselves playing popular games such as Rocket League, Fall Guys, and Apex Legends.
Among the participants are the hosts of MDA Let’s Play: Kenny Small, also known as Beaniez, and professional football player Nyheim Hines, the 2022 national spokesperson for the MDA.
“For over 70 years, MDA has been transforming the lives of people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis], and other related neuromuscular diseases,” Hines, who plays for the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts, said in a video from the MDA.
Hines also participated in the MDA’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser, MDA Shamrocks, earlier this year. The Colts running back has been a long-time supporter of the MDA, and he has personal experience with the kind of support that the association can provide — his mother lives with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.
“My mom was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when I was 14, and I watched her struggle. But MDA helped her get the best treatments and care,” Hines said.
Funds raised during MDA Rivals and through the Let’s Play platform will go directly to the MDA to help fund research that aims to develop better treatments for people affected by muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders. The funding also supports medical care teams at over 150 MDA Care Centers.
“From day one, they’ve treated me like family at my local care center, and MDA is the only one that funds over 150 care centers across the U.S. to help provide state-of-the-art care for adults and kids like me,” said 12-year-old Ethan LyBrand, MDA National Ambassador, who has was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age 2.
“MDA provides support to thousands of families like mine and Ethan’s,” Hines said. “Thanks to MDA, kids and adults can live life to its fullest.”
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