Elkview resident receives achievement award

ELKVIEW, W.Va. -- Hans Raines of Elkview, W.Va., has received the 2008 Robert Ross Personal Achievement Award for West Virginia from the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

It is the second consecutive year Raines, 26, has been selected to receive the award in recognition of his personal achievements and continuing passion for raising hope and awareness for people with neuromuscular diseases.

The national awards program recognizes the accomplishments and service of people with disabilities caused by any of the diseases in MDA's program.

Raines has used his computer design skills to promote the local services of MDA's Pittsburgh and Charleston offices.

In 1990, Raines received a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic degenerative disease that progressively affects all voluntary muscles, the heart and breathing muscles. Raines is unable to use his arms and uses a power wheelchair for mobility.

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