Our latest coronavirus advice can be found here

So far, 2021 isn't looking too different from the year we've left behind. We're facing a second wave of the pandemic and a third lockdown, along with the reality that we'll have to live, work and interact in this virtual world for some time.

One difference 2021 has brought with it though, is hope. It comes in the form of a UK-wide vaccine programme, and coronavirus treatments that weren't available a year ago. We want to add to that the hope of new treatments for muscle-wasting conditions, by once again funding new research. And for that, we are asking for your support.

Last year, your extraordinary support kept us going as we faced a £2.8m funding gap. We had to act quickly and adjust the way we worked, which meant making difficult decisions to reduce the size of our team and cancel our research grant round. We even moved two of our programmes to new charities. We continued to deliver our essential services with a smaller team and from home, and your support helped us to keep people with muscle-wasting conditions at the heart of everything we do.

Our helpline team, dealt with a 40 percent increase in demand for it's services yet were able to continue offering support and practical advice. You also helped us keep our coronavirus and shielding guidance accurate and current, keep our community connected through virtual events and sustain our existing research grants.

We've learnt a lot. We've innovated, found creative solutions to speed up processes and deliver services, built partnerships and programmes that supported our clinicians and partner charities, and tested new fundraising ideas as live products. We've found new, more inclusive ways of working that well continue, as they serve our community better.

Our collective experience through these uncertain times has shown that we're always stronger when we work together. With your help, we will continue to be there for everyone with a muscle-wasting condition. In 2021, we want to fund new research and to expand the potential the hope of new treatments. But we can only do this with your support.

Please join us.