Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA): 

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating genetic disease affecting every system of the body, particularly the neuromuscular system. It causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting, and therefore may affect everything from the ability to crawl/walk and sit up independently to, in the most common and severe form, even breathe or swallow. There are different forms of SMA and a wide spectrum of how severely children, young people and adults are affected (1). 

For more information about the condition, please visit: (1) http://smauk.org.uk/what-is-spinal-muscular-atrophy

Covid-19 has hit the charity sector particularly hard, including the wonderful organisation SMA UK. This has and will continue to negatively impact their crucial work which ranges from patient, family and community support, to funding research into the understanding, treatment and management of SMA.

The SMA Research Community's Virtual Relay:

In the light of the current situation, a group of early-career researchers  has sought to virtually link the SMA research community through a conference and bolster research activity even at this difficult time. However, we also would like to further strengthen the links between our international research community by joining together to tackle a month-long physical challenge throughout the month of August, which is also SMA Awareness month! 

"Together," we hope to complete a distance equivalent to spanning the length of the UK (1407km) and climb enough elevation equivalent to summiting Mt. Everest (8848m). SMA researchers and their families and friends will be running, hiking, walking and cycling to achieve this goal, and we hope to update this page with our progress throughout SMA Awareness Month! 

Any sponsorship of this feat would be very much appreciated and will directly benefit SMA UK's incredible work, including: 

- Community advocacy and improving access to care, services, and treatments to affected individuals.

-Family and individual support on the educational, pastoral and social care level.

-Funding the research required to best understand, effectively treat and improve care in SMA.  

For more information about SMA UK's work, please feel free to visit: 

http://smauk.org.uk/our-vision-mission-and-strategy

With love and and enormous deal of thanks from the SMA research community!