Local Lock-Up: 90 Seek Freedom From 'the Cell'

Madeline Schott is wise beyond her years.

The 11-year-old Orland Park resident looked on Wednesday afternoon at in Tinley Park as volunteer after volunteer hustled to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Muscular dystrophy includes a handful of inherited disorders that involve muscle weakness and loss of muscular tissue. The disease worsens over time, according to the MDA website.

"Seeing this makes me feel really nice," said Madeline, who has muscular dystrophy. "I like it because I know that one day, they're going to find a cure. All of this is helping."

Gatto's hosted an MDA Lock-up Wednesday, in which local business and community leaders agreed to be "arrested" for having a "big heart." After participants were carted to the restaurant in squad cars by volunteer Orland and Tinley Park police officers, they were tasked with raising $1,600 in bail money.

They used MDA cell phones for their "one call," to freedom — in other words, to solicit contributions toward their $1,600 get-out-of-jail tab.

Bail is enough to send two local 6- to 17-year-old kids to an MDA summer camp in Ingleside, where they will be monitored by specialized staff members and can boat, zip line and simply spend time acting their age.

"All of the money raised will be spent locally," said Anna Fratto, executive director of the Orland Park MDA branch, which serves about 400 families in Cook, Will and Kankakee counties.

Wednesday's event included about 90 volunteers from Orland, Tinley, Mokena and Frankfort, she said.

Among them was Roxane DeVos Tyssen. She came into the event having raised about $350, but doubled her money Wednesday. At one point, her mother stopped in with bread and water in hand.

"This is so important to local families, it really is," Tyssen said. "Fundraisers like this are right up my alley."

The Schott family is glad to have the support. Lisa Schott was beside her daughter, Madeline, at the lock-up along with her son, Carter, 9, who also suffers from muscular dystrophy.

"Two out of my three kids are affected by this," Lisa said. "The organization itself is wonderful.  … It's nice to see that people can reciprocate and do good for others in the world. This is refreshing."