59: Episode 58 - Wrapping up 2025 with Ira and Lily

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Ambassadors, Lily S. and Ira Walker. Lily is a dedicated advocate finishing her first year as a National Ambassador. She shares her journey, why she believes it is important to advocate for yourself and others, and what she has learned along the way. As Ira wraps up his second year as a National Ambassador and prepares to start a career as a published author, he chats about how connecting with his community and sharing his story with others through MDA has been life-changing. These National Ambassadors join us to share their experiences, expertise, and advice.

Transcript

Guests:

Lily Sander is 18 years old and lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Her passions include disability advocacy, female justice advocacy, and accessible education. She enjoys traveling with her family, having a good cup of coffee, and spending time with her dogs. Her hope is to inspire others to embrace a positive outlook(even in the face of adversity), encourage individuals to advocate for themselves and others, and make a meaningful impact on the world.

Connect with Lily: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-sander-89b75a274/
• Instagram: @la.sander / https://www.instagram.com/la.sander/

Ira Walker is 39 years old and lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). He’s an avid sports fan, cultural connoisseur of the arts, and an impressive cook who is constantly evolving his culinary abilities. He describes himself as a highly independent and active gentlemen who is living his dream and best life in south Florida while working an exciting career in HR. Ira loves exploring the sights and sounds of his environment in his sophisticated modified van.

Connect with Ira: 

• Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/IraWalker321

Host:

Mindy Henderson is MDA’s Vice President of Disability Outreach & Empowerment, Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2, when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck.

Connect with Mindy:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/