Community Involvement
Chris Messick and his practice founded and organize an annual fundraising event benefitting PPMD, a national not-for-profit organization who's mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The annual event is called Sam's Day in honor of Sam Killian, an eight year old boy and family friend, who was diagnosed with Duchenne six years ago.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne, the most common form of childhood muscular dystrophy, is a progressive and fatal muscle disorder affecting boys and young men that causes the loss of muscle function, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. It occurs in 1 in 3,500 births making it the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood.
About PPMD
 Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The organization’s mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy through research, advocacy, education and compassion. PPMD is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio with offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.parentprojectmd.org.
Sam's Day Press Release
 John Killian, Chairman of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest non-profit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), and his wife Stefanie Killian, announced today that the 6th Annual Sam’s Day will take place on October 30, 2010 from 11am to 5pm at NorthPark Center in Dallas. Sam’s Day is named for the Killian’s son Sam (8 years old), the youngest of four children, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in early 2005. Sam’s Day was started in October of the same year by the Killian’s financial advisor and close personal friend, Chris Messick, CFP of Northwestern Mutual.
Sam’s Day founder Chris Messick, who received a Northwestern Mutual Foundation community service award last year for his work on Sam’s Day which included a donation of $10,000 to the charity, is especially excited about this sixth anniversary year, and the move to NorthPark Center. “We really didn’t know what to expect the first year we held Sam’s Day. And now, here we are, five years later with an event that we are proud to say has increased awareness about Duchenne in the Dallas area and raised over $500,000 for research to help the thousands of amazing kids like Sam who are fighting this terrible disease. Our move to NorthPark Center will help make Sam’s Day 2010 our biggest event ever. ”
Sam’s Day has become an annual destination for Dallas residents. It is a free, family-friendly event with bounce houses, obstacle course, clowns, face painters, magicians, and lots of other kid-friendly entertainment including performances by David Chicken and the Spooky Strings Marionette Show. The event will also feature a silent auction that will include items such as a seven day stay in a 3,000+ sq ft condo in Puerto Vallarta along with other travel packages, sports tickets, and sports memorabilia.
For more information on Sam’s Day, please visit www.SamsDayTexas.org.
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