This half marathon I’m doing in March is in support of the charity Action Duchenne. I’d never heard of them before but when I was looking for Muscular Dystrophy charities to support, after the son of my friend was diagnosed, I found them and learnt about all the incredible work they do. Please have a read and if you’d like to support them by sponsoring me to run 13.1 miles that would be brilliant - this is a charity where you could really make a difference.

Action Duchenne has a clear vision: a world where lives are no longer limited by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The charity works to deliver the vision through our three core objectives:

DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR ALL by funding research, educating clinicians and researchers, supporting clinical trials and campaigning for access.
BUILDING A COMMUNITY by uniting families, educating about Duchenne and raising the profile of the condition to a wider audience.
STRIVING FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY by promoting the importance of human equality, day-to-day acceptance of disability and accessibility for those with Duchenne.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic muscle wasting condition affecting around 2,500 people in the UK – the vast majority being male. The body does not produce a protein called dystrophin which is needed for muscle function.

Usually diagnosed around the age of 4 years, parents are told the devastating news that the life expectancy of their child is around 30 years – the worst news you could ever expect to hear. DMD severely affects quality of life; in time, a wheelchair is used full-time and eventually all of the muscles in the body stop working. Ventilation is needed to assist with breathing and death usually occurs from heart failure.

There are currently no cures or treatment options available to the entire population who have the condition – this is what our charity is working hard to change.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.