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Family Focus: Local boy helps raise awareness about muscular dystrophy

CONCORD, N.C. — When the Muscular Dystrophy Association airs its annual star-filled national telethon this weekend, a boy from Concord will be part of it all.

Bryson Foster, 12, is excited about his first week at middle school. The 6th-grader at Harold E. Winkler is coming off a busy summer in his new role with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as a national goodwill ambassador.

“I just love going around and meeting people, because that's just another person that wants to help,” Bryson said.

He has a form of muscular dystrophy that causes muscle weakness and prevents him from walking.

“What's painful about it is just sitting in the chair and looking at other people walking. It just hurts sometimes,” Bryson said.

But Bryson said he doesn't waste time feeling sorry for himself.

“I don't sit around and mope, and I go out and try to make friends,” he said.

It's that outgoing nature that helped Bryson nab a role raising awareness for the MDA.

Bryson has traveled the country, meeting celebrities and other children fighting his fight.

His mom, Claire, couldn't be prouder.

“He just seems to touch everybody he meets,” she said.

And she believes everything happens for a reason.

“We felt like one of those reasons was to raise awareness, and we never dreamed it be on a national platform, but here we are,” she said.

“Some days I want to give up, but other days, you know, you just got to keep trudging, because we're trying to beat this disease, and I know one day we can do it,” Bryson said.