Page 26 - 2020 Summer CMTA Report

CMT: Let It Empower You

BY RILEY WILLIAMS

undraising has always initially took me back
intimidated me: I was to the hopeless place I
nervous and worried thought I had left years
I wouldn’t be success- ago. The more I thought
Fful and wouldn’t about it, though, the
know how to answer the more it brought to mind
questions “What is this the phrase, “Let it
fundraiser for?” or “What empower you.” It’s a
is CMT?” Before I got simple phrase, but it
involved with the CMTA, embodies my entire
I struggled to answer. Once battle with CMT. This
Erin Black (L) and
I got active, though, these Riley Williams (R)] disease is what you make
questions began to seem of it: If you choose to
exciting. let it take your joy, it
By the time I was diagnosed ing something destructive into will, but it can also become your
with CMT at 13, I was desperate something that gave me purpose. source of joy. It can become your
for answers and often felt hopeless. Since then, Camp Footprint has purpose.
That all changed after my parents become my heaven on earth. It’s Shortly after this, I began
talked me into going to Camp where I met my best friends, who thinking of ways to hit my
Footprint for the first time in also happen to be fighting this dis- fundraising goal. Some of my
2017. There I conquered my fears, ease. I have become a member of friends have created shirts to raise
broke out of my shell and, for the the CMTA Youth Council, and I money for the CMTA, and I
first time in my life, felt like a have shared about my CMT. decided to do the same. I went
“normal” kid. It was the best feel- As a member of the CMTA online, wrote out my story and
ing in the entire world. The more Youth Council, one of my respon- designed my shirts. Before I knew
involved I got with the CMTA, sibilities is to fundraise. Each of it, people were actually buying
the more my passion grew. I saw us is tasked with raising $1,000 them. The support I received was
what could happen by transform- annually. Hearing about this goal overwhelming. Within a month, I
had hit my fundraising goal and
the number of new people who
had learned about CMT truly
gave me chills. My friends and
family were soon wearing the
shirt, which both raised awareness
and told a story.
My fundraiser showed me
how many people truly care and
want to learn more about this
disease. It showed me how much
you can accomplish when you
stop letting fear get in your way.
The question that once seemed so
daunting now gives me so much
joy to answer. So now when you
ask me, “What is CMT?” my
answer is, “It is something that
empowers me.” h

Riley, 17, is a rising senior in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

26 THE CMTA REPORT SUMMER 2020