In 2017, one of our colleagues found out that both his sons, Owen and George, have Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is a progressive condition diagnosed in childhood, which affects 1 in 3500 boys, and which causes all the muscles in the body to gradually weaken. There is currently no cure, but there is hope, and Owen and George's parents started Project GO as a family fund to raise funds for Duchenne UK, the leading UK charity funding medical research into Duchenne and accelerating access to treatment.

As most of us look forward to seeing our children thrive and become independent, Owen and George will face a different future as their strength deteriorates and the disease progresses. There is always hope, and Owen and George are desperate to have the opportunity to benefit from emerging treatments currently being researched. As they wait, they continue to lose muscle and function which they can never recover. Just a couple of months ago, the first boy was enrolled in a new UK gene therapy trial, but progress is slow and spaces are limited due to the costs and complexity of the study.

We have found a fitting challenge to help their charity. We have resurrected the (now aging) Royal College of Surgeons Rugby team to come together for an attempt to manhandle a muckle whisky cask to the summit of Lochnagar, a Munro near Balmoral, on Saturday 30th April 2022.

Our goal is to raise £20,000 for Project GO and Duchenne UK. Together we will raise awareness and bring real hope to families affected by this cruel disease. Thank you so much for your support.