age group, and Nugget took first place _{as best-conditioned horse. A year} She’s Both Martial Artist and later, Josh moved up to first place in _{TREC nationals, and Nugget again was declared best-conditioned horse. Humanitarian}

Dozier, who was MDA’s goodwill Danielle (Dani) Anderson is not a per- disabilities,” she said. “It was my first ambassador for the Charlotte region son you’d want to meet in a dark alley. real time away from home, and it was in 2006, says his long-term goal is to The 21-year-old black belt in tae kwon eye opening. Seeing others there made “become a therapeutic horseman and do can take care of herself. me fully realize that young people with work with other children who have In truth, Anderson, who has disabilities have every bit as much neuromuscular diseases.” Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spends opportunity to succeed in life as any-

He calls his mom a hero in his life’s most of her time looking after others. one else.” saga. Bender, a schoolteacher when She’ll enroll this fall in Her gumption and they lived near Charlotte, was a care- California State University, inspirational outlook giver not only for Josh (while home- Sacramento, where she earned Anderson a spot schooling him), but also for her mother lives, but she’s helping last year as a panel-and grandmother, both of whom had to pay for her education ist at Blazing the Trail: CMT, and for her husband, who had a by working as a project A National Youth stroke and developed cancer after serv- assistant for the California Development and ing in the U.S. Army in Somalia. When Health Incentives Leadership Summit spon-she learned that she herself had CMT, Improvement Project. sored by the U.S. Office her school employers fired her. One of the organiza- of Disability Employment “We’ve learned to count our bless- tion’s major programs Policy in Washington. ings, and helping others makes it is co-chairing the Youth She really liked the worthwhile,” she says of her fundrais- Leadership Forum for _{Dani Anderson} town, and her dream is ing efforts for MDA. “MDA has always Students with Disabilities, one day to work there in been there for us. Now, their help and which Dani attended in 2003. government as an advocate for people Josh’s newfound love for horses has “It brought together junior and with disabilities. given him hope and has helped him set senior high school students from If her record of accomplishments goals even in the face of chronic illness around California. We learned about and commitment to caring are any india₁n₁d_.0a₇d_-v_he_er_as_lit_ty_h. _-M_Thy_em_rae_Cs_:s_La_a g_y e_ot_uo_to₁ther₁s_1/is₂,_0/07dis₆a_:b₄i₁lit_P y_Mcul_Pt_a u_gre_e, ₁leadership skills and cation, she’s certain to be a stellar asset ‘Never give up.’” socializing with others who have among the nation’s policymakers. q

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