Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Thinkin Out Loud:

I need to create a remote lifestyle business to fund a nonprofit outreach/awareness campaign for my inherited neuromuscular disease, Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT).  Don’t LOL it’s an odd name for a serious nerve disease that wastes the muscles of the feet, legs, hands & arms.  It affects 2.6 million people worldwide.  The MDA and two other organizations already collect money for research and many services and resources that I and others like me greatly appreciate.
Our disorder often has a very sneaky onset and can appear at virtually any age and then WHAM!  A life can become so painful, awkward, and cumbersome.  In the absence of a known family history like mine, many people are accused of or consider thee disease to be one of the mind.  You feel if you just fight hard enough you can overcome this disorder that was once diagnosed as “laziness” and “stork legs” referring to the most common, obvious symptom of wasting in the lower legs.
If it was just cranky old men like me bein affected, I would not mind so much.  Online though, I have learned of so many other people including lil ones, young men & woman, older folks…no one is really safe though the probability is very low if it’s not apparent in your family.  Not everyone has knowledge of their genetic family either.
Whereas it used to be a lack of information, the internet has put knowledge at the fingertips.  Misdiagnosis an inappropriate, even damaging, treatments is a major problem and that old cliché “awareness” is the key.  I wish to reach out to 31 million mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who might be missin the telethons and parlay the mission into a personal advocacy and support service for my “brothers and sisters” with CMT.
I found an article http://onforb.es/QSfv6S  about 7 reasons to choose lifestyle over startup business.  It was a revelation for me as the “jack of all trades and master of none”.  I am not interested in bein wealthy for the sake of bein wealthy and that has been a weight as long as I believed it was the only reason.  This article and my recent “calling” have shown me a new path and philosophy to embrace.  Check it out at www.facebook.com/groups/mma4cmt .  The files tab at the top contains my mission statement and more.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Paralympic Judo!

These athletes are visually impaired,  I would like to see an MMA competition for people with various physical disabilities, starting with my CMT!
http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/news/articles/the-only-martial-art-the-paralympic-programme-set-for-excel.html

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

A billion new MMA fans!

While there are currently estimated to be 31 million MMA fans I am trying to reach & teach about CMT, The promoters are workin on addin…a BILLION more potential MMA fans!  They are workin their way into India etc!  There are tens of thousands of brilliant scientific and medical minds in that part of the world that could be inspired to join the search for our CMT cure!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Here is a sample of some of the introductory level of training we are talkin about.  Not tryin to hurt my friends with CMT like me, just push back a little!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PSQaKlA9tc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thursday, July 12, 2012

MMA 4 CMT is working hard to develop the relationships neccessary to achieve it's mission!  We are wide open to comments, suggestions, even criticism.  Just lemme know what ya think in general!

MMA 4 CMT       Let’s Make CMT Tapout!
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a slowly progressive peripheral neuropathy that results in muscular atrophy and sensory loss in the arms and legs and causes chronic pain.

MMA 4 CMT’s Mission is “Working to raise awareness of Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease through the growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) professional fighting to their 31 million fans and to make MMA style training programs designed for and available to people with CMT”
MMA 4 CMT’s Aims & Objectives:
·         Increasing public awareness of CMT so people can understand the effects of the disease
·         Increasing CMT patient awareness of the types of symptoms that CMT can cause and the variety of treatments and aides available
·         Reaching out to doctors who often struggle to diagnose the early symptoms correctly.   Lack of correct diagnosis often results in disbelief of the severity of the pain and weakness, especially in children, improper treatments, and sometimes, unnecessary surgeries
·         Implementing and promoting MMA training programs designed for people affected by CMT
·         Contributing indirectly, through enormous exposure, to some of the organizations already working to offer support and services to those with CMT