I'm raising £2,000 for vital research into a treatment/cure for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. All funds raised will go directly to Professor Darren Monckton at Glasgow University. This money will help to find a treatment for myself and others diagnosed with this condition. More importantly it will help my children, should they need a treatment in the future and others who maybe carrying this gene while know nothing about it like I did.

We have been told that treatment should be available in the next 2-5 years. However, these early treatments will not be a cure - but we must remain hopeful. Anything that can at least slow the progression for now would be life changing for so many.

Dr Monckton is Professor of Human Genetics (Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology) at the University of Glasgow. He is internationally recognized for his work in understanding the molecular turnover and role of tandemly repeated DNA sequences in the human genome and their relationship to inherited disease, with a specific focus on the CTG repeat within the gene associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1. (Taken from www.myotonic.org)

From Dr Monckton “Our own research is centred on understanding the variability of the myotonic dystrophy, and how genetic variation relates to this. This work is key to providing more accurate prognostic information to families, but is also critical for ensuring clinical trials of new treatments are as effective as possible, as well as for identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention.”