Local CITGO marketer raises $40,000 to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association.
On Dec. 4, local CITGO Marketer Flash Market Inc., Core Mark and CITGO Petroleum Corp. hosted the 10th annual Passport to a Cure event featuring keynote speaker Zack Arnold, director and producer of GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story, which follows the life of a boy diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age.
The event was held at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock and raised nearly $40,000 to benefit the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
“We were so excited to welcome Zach Arnold to speak at our event,” said Heather Zimmerman, executive director at the MDA. “His film and adaptation of Christopher Rush’s story is a true inspiration. We were honored to hear Zach tell this story and help us in our efforts to fight these neuromuscular diseases.”
Arnold discussed his film, which follows the life of Christopher Rush, who was born in Michigan and diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at only seven months old. Doctors told the Rush family that Christopher would not live past the age of two, but he defied the odds and lived his 30 years of life to the fullest. Arnold and Rush met at the University of Michigan in a film production course and went on to become close friends.
“Because muscular dystrophy is a disease that affects so many people in the communities where we live and work, we’re happy to support events where people can learn first-hand about the organization and its fight for a cure,” said Alan Flagg, assistant vice president of supply and marketing at CITGO. “Furthermore, we’re grateful that Zach could join us and share his personal experiences with muscular dystrophy.”