Premier dealers turn “jailbirds” to send MDA kids to camp
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| William Cuthbertson jailed to raise money for the Muscular Distrophy Association. |
Local business owners and community leaders from Clarksville, Tenn. were accused recently of “having a big heart” and were “arrested” and hauled off to “jail” on Thursday, June 18.
Among them were Premier Rental-Purchase dealers William, James and Leaann Cuthbertson. They remained “behind bars” while they raised “bail,” money that was donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
The MDA Executive Lock-Up was held at a local Clarksville restaurant. With the help of the community and other supporters, “jailbirds” raised $34,000 to support groundbreaking research at the MDA Clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and to send children and young adults with neuromuscular diseases to MDA’s annual Summer Camp at the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Ky.
The Cuthbertsons raised nearly $11,000.00 at a pre-event carnival they hosted at their Premier store a week earlier. One hundred percent of all carnival proceeds were donated to the MDA as well as the first payment on every new account opened that day.
On the day of the lock-up, their “bail” reached $1,500 within 45 minutes, thanks to the community and fellow Premier dealers who were eager to “spring them.” The Cuthbertsons raised the most money out of all the other 40 participating small businesses.
“It was a very successful effort,” said William Cuthbertson. “It was touching to see the gratitude expressed by the recipients and to know that we had been part of something that will change lives and support a good cause. It was also heart-warming to see the response from the community and also from our fellow Premier business owners who rallied behind us with their financial contributions. I am looking forward to visiting the camp in July to see just what we were able to provide to help our friends with MD. It was definitely worth getting ‘locked up!’”
The Clarksville Premier Rental-Purchase store is located at 98 Dover Crossing Road. Phone is 931/906-8551. The store has been a member of the community since 2006.