Matthew Bishop, Age 12
New Lothrop, MI

Home and Family

Matt lives with his parents, Colleen and Thomas, and his younger sister, Emma. The family also has a yellow lab named Molly and a cat named Sylvie.

Diagnosis

When Matt was 7, he was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia by the MDA Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

School

Matt is in 6th grade. He enjoys all subjects; particularly math and reading.

Interests

Matt is fun-loving and easy going with a great sense of humor. He loves to read and has an extensive vocabulary, which helps him to be particularly well-spoken. Matt is an outgoing and polite young man who is not easily rattled. He is a huge sports fan and likes to camp with his family. He enjoys hunting and fishing. Matt is also a member of his church youth group.

MDA Activities

Matt attends MDA Summer Camp every June and absolutely loves it! He says his two favorite things about camp are the food and his friends. Matt and his family have participated in the MDA Muscle Walk for the last three years, having the largest team and raising the most money in 2014. Matt has represented MDA at numerous MDA events and loves doing so! He was recently invited to conduct the puck drop at a charity hockey game and to promote the game on a local news show. Matt has also served as an MDA representative during a Saginaw Spirit Hockey Game. Matt currently attends the MDA Clinic affiliated with McLaren Regional Medical Center where he is able to see a multidisciplinary team of doctors and specialists and hear the latest updates on research and clinical trials.