Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK).

In November 2020, our wonderful 4 year old son Henry was diagnosed with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), a progressive muscle wasting disease, for which there is no current cure. This was a truly devastating moment for us and to help us to come to terms with this news we wanted to do something that will directly help Henry and others affected by muscular dystrophy. Therefore, throughout 2021 will be doing lots of things to raise awareness of the condition and more importantly  money which will be used to fund pioneering research into potential treatments that could limit the effects of muscular dystrophy on Henry and others and possibly one day find a cure.

Henry is one of around 2,400 males in the UK out of a population of over 33 million males (or about 1 in 30000) to be affected by this extremely rare condition. He was born with a tiny error in his DNA which will cause his muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing and often severe disability.

Although there is great variation in speed and onset of BMD, he will gradually begin to lose the ability to do most things that we take for granted as his muscles start to waste. Jumping, walking, climbing stairs, running with friends and even something as simple as brushing his teeth will all likely become very challenging as early as his teenage years. As the disease progresses he will eventually require the use of walking aids and/or a wheelchair by his 30s and there is a very real possibility it will lead to life-threatening health problems, as heart and breathing muscles weaken, leading potentially to a premature death between 40 and 50.

Writing the words above has been very difficult and something we never even imagined would happen to us even a few months ago. Anything you can give, big or small, to help MDUK to find a cure for Henry would mean the absolute world to us.

For those who don't know Henry, he is a typical nearly 4 year old. He is a funny, fiercely independent, mischievous little boy who loves playing with his Paw Patrol toys, watching his favourite cartoons, going for walks to the duck pond with his Grandparents, running around with his nursery friends (he is the second fastest, he says!) and being a big brother to 2 year old Elliot. His most recent nursery report opened with the line 'Henry has a heart full of gold' and we could not be more proud of him.

The activities we will be undertaking include February's MDUK Go Bright For The Fight, lots of crafting and other fun with Michelle and culminating in Keith taking part in the 2021 Great North Run in September.

Thank you for reading,

Keith and Michelle 

#teamhenry #musclesmatter