Over thirty years ago, Ed Pemberton – known as “Mr. Ed” to his swim students – was conversing with a small group of “special children” about their dreams for the future. When Samuel, a large 10-year old boy, confined to a wheelchair with muscular dystrophy exclaimed that he wanted to be an architect and design big buildings, Mr. Ed had to fight back the tears. He knew that Samuel wasn’t likely to live many more years because the prognosis for children with MD at the time was very bleak. There have been many advancements in medical and physical therapy for those with MD since then, but according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), there is still a long way to go.

This past summer, Pemberton taught therapeutic swimming to Matthew, age 5, who has MD. At first, Matthew was afraid of putting his face in the water. After just a few lessons, Pemberton had Matthew blowing bubbles, immersing his head for five seconds and using strategic breathing techniques while swimming the 25-foot width of his pool! Thanks to strides in research and medicine “Matthew will have a slightly longer lifespan and a greater quality of life than children did just years ago,” says Pemberton. “He really loves the water now and, thanks to research, his outlook for a happy and productive future is much better than it would have been in years past.”

Much more research into a cure for MD is needed and Pemberton hopes that there will be a day when no child has to struggle with the disability of muscular dystrophy. That is why he has agreed to participate in the MDA’s Jail and Bail at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30th at Doc’s All American Grille in Knoxville.

Pemberton is welcoming donations for the MDA from his past swim students’ families and everyone in the greater Knoxville community. Tax deductible donations can be made to help fund research and release Mr. Ed from the jail event by calling the MDA at: (865) 588-1632 or visiting his bail page at: http://www2.mda.org/goto/mred.

Pemberton’s background with teaching children with MD and other disabilities spans over 40 years and he has taught more than 30,000 students to swim, ranging from newborn infants to adults. Pemberton holds a Master of Science from the University of Kentucky in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, and has completed PhD studies at The University of Iowa in Analysis of Athletic Motion and Adapting Exercise for the Disabled. He came to Knoxville to serve on the faculty of The University of Tennessee, directing the Hydro Help Handicapped Swim Program and teaching students and volunteers in the community how to work with disabled children and adults in the water. Based on improvements he has seen in students after performing therapeutic swimming exercises in his pool, Pemberton supports the theory that teaching infants to swim, especially, can be instrumental in maintaining muscle strength in those with MD and possibly preventing symptoms of autism in infants.

In order to enhance the progress of students with disabilities, Pemberton has also designed and manufactured several swim products and developmental aids to assist with teaching mainstream and handicapped students to swim, dive and float in the water as a means of exercise and water safety. In addition to his teaching facility in Knoxville, TN, Pemberton owns distribution warehouses in Hong Kong and markets his products to customers worldwide.