Marks Gray Shareholder, Jep Barbour, is 'Behind Bars' for MDA

hareholder, Jeptha 'Jep' Barbour joins more than 150 business and civic leaders from throughout the Downtown Jacksonville area has been “arrested” and put “behind bars” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Lock-Up fundraiser held today at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront. Accused of having big hearts and being heavily armed with kindness, the “jailbirds” volunteered to be part of MDA’s Lock-Up in order to raise “bail” by encouraging friends, family, co-workers and business contacts to make contributions to MDA that will directly benefit families in greater Jacksonville area living with progressive muscle diseases. “I am glad to give my time to raise money to help assist in finding a cure for muscular dystrophy,” said Marks Gray attorney, Mr. Barbour. Each MDA jailbird’s “bail” is set at $4,000, which will allow him/her to be released for good behavior. “It’s amazing how our community jailbirds have rallied around MDA and are doing a great job as they continue to raise bail donations,” explained Lauren Herringdine, Executive Director. “The actual day of the Lock-Up will be a fun celebration of the work each person did to help families who live right here in our community.” Lock-Ups are one of MDA’s signature fundraising programs, benefiting local individuals living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related progressive muscle diseases in the Jacksonville area. MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides unparalleled health care services; advocates for the families it serves; and invests significant resources educating the medical and scientific communities, as well as the general public, about neuromuscular diseases affecting more than 1 million Americans. MDA maintains a nationwide network of some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics — 38 of which are designed as MDA/ALS centers — that provide unparalleled medical and health care services to adults and children with neuromuscular diseases. Families in greater Jacksonville are encouraged to visit the MDA clinics at Nemours, UF & Shands, and Mayo.