Schwartz: A Net Gain For A Tremendous Cause

Nets' Radio Voice To Hold 4th Annual Dinner To Benefit His Foundation For FSHD July 2, 2014 7:00 AM

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By Peter Schwartz More Columns

There was a time when Chris Carrino was an avid sportsman. But during his college years at Fordham, his ability to compete athletically suffered a drop off as he began to feel the effects of weakening muscles, mostly in his shoulders and upper limbs.

Then, in his early 20s, Carrino was diagnosed with facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy that affects thousands of adults and children throughout the world. Its a progressive disease for which there is no cure or treatment, but the radio voice of the Brooklyn Nets is dealing with it.

I actually have been feeling pretty good, said Carrino. I try to live in the moment with it, but knowing that down the road its definitely a progressive thing that you have to deal with. You have to deal with the emotional effects of it and you have to deal with the physical effects of it.

On July 17, Carrinos foundation for FSHD will hold its fourthannual dinner/dance at Russos on the Bay in Howard Beach. The foundation is a non-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization that funds specifically-focused scientific research.

(Credit: Chris Carrino/WFAN)

After he was initially diagnosed with FSHD, not many people knew what Chris was going through. Instead of telling everyone about his disease, Carrino chose to keep it a secret.

I never wanted people to view me any differently, said Carrino,who just completed his 13thseason as the radio voice of the Nets. I didnt want people to get the idea that I couldnt do the job. People that were really close to me knew because there were limitations that I would have.

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Schwartz: A Net Gain For A Tremendous Cause