Ellington

Adam Malone, 8, wants all children to have access to playgrounds. With the help of his parents, Drew, and Angela, Adam is raising money for a wheelchair-accessible playground at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland.

When he was 2, doctors diagnosed Adam with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe form of muscular dystrophy characterized by rapidly weakening muscles. After finding adequate treatment at Cincinnati Children in Ohio, Adam's parents created Adam's Project, a non-profit organization to help muscular dystrophy patients and special-needs children in Jackson. Adam is an active fourth-grader at First Presbyterian Day School in Jackson, who enjoys playing the violin.

"We want people to be educated and informed on muscular dystrophy, and to have a place in this area with any type of special needs or disability can play and not feel isolated," his father says.

So far, Adam's Project has raised $10,000 for the new playground, which will cost $300,000 to build.

"This park (will have) ramps so people with wheelchairs or special needs can use the equipment," Drew says. "We wanted to have a place where kids of all abilities can play as well as parents who may be handicapped can play and interact with their kids."

While raising such a large sum of money is a challenge, Drew says the community's support is encouraging.

"The public's been very supportive. People realize there's a real need for a place such as this. All the money we've raised so far has been people chipping in and giving their support," Drew says. "We would like to get something done by the end of the year. We need some good corporate sponsors to step up."

Other family members include: Lauren, 16, and Dylan, 10. Drew is an attorney at Robinson, Biggs, Ingram, Solop & Farris, PLLC, and Angela works for Fleet Morris Petroleum in Madison.

For more information, or to donate money, visit the project's website.
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