Meet Our 2025 MDA Quest Photo Contest Winners

Power play

Congratulations to our 2025 Quest Media photo contest winner, Paula Saxton, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, who submitted this photo of her son, Jake.

Sports photographer Karla Donohoe captured this moment of celebration after Jake scored a goal in the opening game of the 2025 North American Powerhockey Cup. His team, the Philadelphia Flyers PowerPlay, won the game against the Michigan Mustangs and went on to capture the championship.

“As a player, there is nothing more thrilling than tournament play,” says Jake, 22, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). “I loved seeing the competitiveness on display from my teammates, coaches, and even our fans. The will to win was on high display throughout the weekend, making it something I will never forget.”

Jake started playing power hockey when he was 7 and loves how the sport welcomes competitors with different abilities, skills, and experiences.

“This team is made up of many selfless individuals who understand we each have a role to play in order to win, where everyone’s contributions are never overlooked,” he says of the Philadelphia Flyers PowerPlay. Like Jake, several of his teammates are MDA Summer Camp alumni. Read more about the team and the excitement of power hockey in MDA Summer Camp Alumni Put the Power in Powerhockey.

Fun on Wheels

Congratulations to Allison O’Sullivan of Southern Illinois, a runner-up in the 2025 Quest Media Photo Contest. This photo was taken while celebrating her daughter, Aubrey’s, seventh birthday in June. Aubrey lives with reducing body myopathy, a rapidly progressing muscle disease, and the family must take extra precautions to avoid germ exposure.

“We rented a roller skating rink for an hour and had a blast as a family zooming around the rink to her favorite songs,” Allison says.

The O’Sullivan family, from left to right: Marcus, Zachary, Allison, Aubrey, and Brandon

Striking a Chord

Congratulations to Lucas Garrett of Queensbury, New York, a runner-up in the 2025 Quest Media Photo Contest. Photographer Stephanie J. Bartik took this photo in December 2024 at the Strand Theater in Hudson Falls, New York, to promote Lucas’s live shows in Upstate New York.

“This photo is special to me because it highlights one of the main things that gives my life purpose: music,” Lucas says.

The 32-year-old singer-songwriter, who lives with Pompe disease, has also released a vinyl record, “Reaching Through Dreams” (lucasgarrettmusic.com).

Lucas Garrett, photo courtesy of Stephanie J. Bartik

The Joy of Song

Congratulations to Rachael Bae of Placentia, California, a runner-up in the 2025 Quest Media Photo Contest. Rachael, 21, has been active as a vocalist and speaker at churches, concerts, and events since she began using a power wheelchair in 2016 due to Ullrich muscular dystrophy. In 2018, she released “Grace,” her first digital single album, with a song written and composed by her mother (youtube.com/RachaelBae).

“This photograph was chosen as the cover image for that special album, symbolizing both the challenges of living with muscular dystrophy and the joy of expressing hope and faith through music,” she says.

Rachael Bae, photo courtesy of Pastor Seoplee Kim