Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and wasting. Children born with DMD have a fault, known as a mutation, on their dystrophin gene. Genes are smaller sections of the body's DNA. They are the instructions that make our bodies work. For people with DMD, the fault on the gene means that they cannot produce dystrophin, which is a protein that protects muscles. Without dystrophin, muscles get damaged more easily and so muscle strength and function is weakened.

DMD almost always affect boys, and is typically diagnosed in childhood. There are around 2,500 patients in the UK and an estimated 300,000 worldwide. It is classified as a rare disease. Today there is no effective treatment or cure.

Will Taylor was diagnosed with DMD in June 2014 at the age of 4. Will is now 13 years old.

In August 2023, Wills Mum and Dad - Sue and Sam, and a group of friends, will attempt to complete a long distance Ironman triathlon called the IRON WILL CHALLENGE to raise awareness of the disease, to bring focus to research, and most importantly, to fund the ground-breaking work that scientists in the UK are undertaking to find treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The IRON WILL CHALLENGE consists of a 3.8km/2.5mile swim; and 180km/112mile bike ride; and a 42.2km/26.2mile run, over 3 days in the hilly terrain of the Lake District.

All of the money raised by the IRON WILL CHALLENGE will go directly to the Muscular Dystrophy UK Duchenne Breakthrough Research Fund. Please support Wills team as they take on this incredible challenge and donate if you can.

Thank You