THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603060097
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
ALEXANDRIA BERGER, author of The Imperfect Navigator column, has won the Hampton Roads Muscular Dystrophy Association's Personal Achievement Award.
The award recognizes accomplishments and community service of people with disabilities caused by neuromuscular diseases.
Berger, 54, who suffers from lupus and two forms of muscular dystrophy, has been writing her column for the past year. It is believed to be the only newspaper column in the country that deals with the issues of the disabled and is written by a disabled person.
Berger's involvement with the rights of the disabled has a long history. As director of public affairs at the Medical College of Hampton Roads, she led the first team of Operation Smile doctors on a mission to the Philippines. She was also instrumental in helping launch Operation Reach. She has long lobbied for broader legislation for the disabled.
Berger is a candidate for the Virginia Muscular Dystrophy Personal Achievement Award, which will be presented May 1. The national award winner will be announced on the ``Stars Across America Jerry Lewis Telethon'' on Labor Day.
Berger lives in Portsmouth with her husband, Alex. She has a son and a daughter and one grandchild. by CNB