Members of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) chapter of New York, which consists of many families from Farmingdale who have children who are victims of the disease, recently sponsored their fifth annual Charity Softball Challenge on Sunday, July 29 at Firemen's Park in Lindenhurst in an effort to promote awareness of the disease and raise money in hopes of a cure.

The Farmingdale Fire Department, News Channel 12, KeySpan Energy and the members of the Village of Lindenhurst were among the organizations that competed in the fund raiser.

Farmingdale resident Rosemary Yenzer, whose 5-year-old daughter Victoria is a victim of the disease, said that this year's fund raiser was a huge success. Each year, Yenzer and other families sell raffle tickets for prizes and gifts donated by those who did not contribute monetarily. In addition, local businesses provide inning sponsorships to the organization.

Last year, the association raised approximately $20,000 and hopes to garner an equal or greater amount this year, once all totals are calculated.

SMA, found primarily in children, is a disease that children inherit from their parents. One in 40 adults carries the gene and in order for a child to contract SMA both parents must be carriers. SMA is a progressive, sometimes fatal disease which directly affects the voluntary muscles in the spinal cord and hinders children from walking, head and neck control and even swallowing.

The annual charity softball game acts as a primary means of raising funds for the association. Yenzer explained that since most families attempt to spend as much time as possible with their children, it's often difficult to partake in fund raisers.

"I feel it's more important to spend the time with my daughter," Yenzer said. "It's a very emotional thing, this disease, and I want to spend as much time with her as I possibly can. I rely on a lot of friends and members of the organization to help [with the fund raiser]. No one person can do it alone," she added. "We all work together."

Local residents who would like to help support the Families of SMA may send donations to the organization's New York chapter at P.O. Box 1182, West Babylon, NY 11704, or contact their national headquarters at P.O. Box 196 Libertyville, IL. 60048-0196.