Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease which affects males but is carried by females. My uncle died at the age of 12 and my mother is a carrier. We were very fortunate in that I was not affected and my sister is not a carrier, but my family knows the effect Muscular Dystrophy can have on a family.

Therefore I am using my healthy muscles, which would have deteriorated through Muscular Dystrophy, to raise money for families who are less fortunate.

The Charity—Duchenne Muscular dystrophy

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the only UK charity focusing on all muscular dystrophies and allied disorders. It has pioneered the search for treatments and cures for over 40 years. The charity provides advice and information for boys affected by Muscular Dystrophy, and also helps family members as it is them that provide a support network to the child. It provides equipment to increase quality of living and mobility. It also researches not only cures, treatments and causes but how to make things easier physically and mentally for all involved. To achieve all these things The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is heavily involved with fundraising.

Getting up from a seated position on the floor becomes increasingly difficult. To compensate, boys use what is referred to as the Gower's method of rising. From a position on all fours, the boys presses on his thighs and climbs up them on order to extend the hips and then to a standing position. Weakness of the shoulder muscles also increases, which makes it increasingly difficult to raise their arms. The heel cord begins to tighten up, also making walking more difficult. Due to all this, most boys become wheelchair bound by the age of 12. Once chair bound, scoliosis, curving of the spine, becomes a problem. Scoliosis is a serious problem because it results in compression of the lung. This in turn affects breathing and predisposes to chest infections. To limit the progression of scoliosis, there is a surgery that attaches rods to the spine.

It is rare that boys survive past their early twenties.

DMD boys appear normal at birth. Therefore, the onset of DMD is often ill defined. One of the first signs is enlarged calf muscles. Boys with DMD usually fall more often, are never able to run well, and have difficulty climbing stairs. They often walk on the toes with the abdomen pushed forward causing a waddling gait. This comes about from a weakness of muscles of the pelvis.

Me and my Sister.

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