New book about Mattie
coming soon

Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs, a book about the poet, peacemaker and former MDA National Goodwill Ambassador written by his mother, Jeni Stepanek, will be released Nov. 3 by Dutton.

Mattie, who served as national goodwill ambassador from 2002-2004, died in 2004 at age 13, from complications of dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. Jeni has the adult onset form of the disease.

In his short life, Mattie published six Heartsongs books of poetry and a collection of peace essays, all of which became New York Times bestsellers.

Messenger, which includes a foreword by Maya Angelou, is the story of Mattie’s remarkable life from his young-est days coping with the loss of his beloved big brother to mitochondrial myopathy, to his final hours. The book includes anecdotes, poems and Jeni’s recollections that have not appeared in print before. He was, she said, an “extraordinary boy who lived every day

The book can be pre-ordered from bookstores and online book sellers. For more information about activities celebrating Mattie’s accomplishments, go to www.mattieonline.com.

After Mattie’s death, MDA set up the Mattie Fund, which directs funds to mitochondrial myopathy research. As of August 31, 109,736 gifts totaling more than $3 million have been received through the Mattie Fund, direct appeals, the MDA Web site and unsolicited donations.

Books for bucks

To raise Telethon donations this year, MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali held a read-a-thon, securing donations for each book she completed. In six weeks, the 10-year-old

avid reader finished 35 books (all at least 100 pages long), raising $5,385 for MDA. An animal lover, her book list included Old Yeller (dogs), Misty of Chincoteague (horses) and the Warriors series (roaming warrior cat clans).

Former ambassador
continues work on
academic credentials

Former MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Ben Cumbo (1996-1997), 22, continues to expand his educa-

Ben Cumbo confers with Elizabeth Osborn, one of his professors at St. Mary’s College.

 

tion and worldview. In May of this year he graduated cum laude from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Shortly afterward he landed an internship in the Obama White House. Now he’s back in school pursuing a master’s degree in Middle East studies at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

MDA Task Force adds
new member

L. Vance Taylor is the newest member of MDA’s National Task Force on Public Awareness, a panel of com-

Newest MDA National Task Force member Vance Taylor is comfortable in the Capitol.