On the windy, cold day of Jan. 25th, which was the 16th anniversary of my brother’s death, I stood on the grounds of the Hurley, Mo., cemetery in front of my brother’s grave.

As I stood there looking around and admiring the flowers my parents had put on the grave moments prior, I wondered who and where would Russell be if he was alive.

At age 15, my brother, Russell Wells, lost his battle against Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. All throughout his life, the Muscular Dystrophy Association was there. MDA is an organization started by Jerry Lewis to support individuals and families impacted by muscular dystrophy and research to find a cure.

If you have seen the four-leaf clovers in grocery stores or have helped a fire fighter fill a boot, you know what I’m talking about.

MDA helped my parents give Russell the life he had, which is why the Wells family will always be in attendance at the MDA Labor Day telethon at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Mo.

The ultimate question is, if more people supported MDA, would my brother still be alive?

Would I at least get to know him for him, instead of knowing him through stories I have been told by family?

No one knows, but it makes one think.

Baker University is a caring and giving institution.

MDA is giving to ill individuals all around the United States.

Put two and two together.

Baker should sponsor an event for students to support MDA because there are many children, who are just like my brother, still fighting their battles, who deserve the opportunity to go to college, not to mention have a life.

I know this sounds cliché, but every penny really does help. At the Labor Day telethon, there is a fish bowl people can drop spare change into. This is generally fun for children of all ages.

Baker should do a fish bowl, Baker style.

Russell’s life motto was to keep fighting no mater what. The Bible verse 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” was put on his headstone.

I will keep fighting for children like my brother and hope that my Baker family will follow suit.