I first learnt about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) ten years ago when I met young men with this condition and their parents and the clinicians in Newcastle who were supporting them.  This affected me deeply and their lives became a focus for social research I carried out with David Abbot at Bristol University. More research is needed into prevention and treatment of DMD and more help is needed to support young men and their families.  By sponsoring my skydive, you can help. Thank you!

I jumped on 4th April 2015 from a plane taking off from the Skydive Academy, Peterlee in County Durham.  
 
NB  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.

If you'd like to know more about DMD, please read on below.

DMD is an inherited neuromuscular disease which affects boys. By around the age of 13, most have lost the ability to walk and by the mid teens there are other complications: curvature of the spine, respiratory difficulties and cardiac failure. Until recently, the mean age of death was 19.  But with more effective medical and surgical intervention, a new generation of young men with DMD is living into their 20s, albeit with severe impairments.  The challenge to families and health, education and social services was that this was unexpected and people were not well prepared to help.  Our research on the young men's transition to adulthood was funded by the government and supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC).