Backing Jack

[p]In November of last year, my 4-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This is a very rare and desperately cruel terminal muscle wasting disease which currently has no cure with an estimated 300,000 sufferers worldwide.[/p][p]The history of this disease, which mainly effects boys would see Jack being paralysed and needing a wheelchair from the age of 12 and a life expectancy between 20 and 30 due to cardiac complications that come on as he gets older (due to the heart being a muscle). [/p][p]There is hope however thanks to recent medical breakthroughs. Right now, there are a number of clinical trials ongoing around the UK and more planned for the future to help Duchenne sufferers. These cover a wide range of treatments from Gene Therapy to Exon Skipping and even synthetic forms of steroids to help slow the muscle wastage. The hope is that these clinical trials will yield results that can alter the history of this disease and change the outlook for children like Jack suffering with this condition.[/p][p]To try and help the fundraising cause toward research and the development of these treatments, I along with my brother in law have signed up to do the Duchenne Dash at Home. This has replaced the annual Duchenne Dash which has been cancelled due to the current covid-19 pandemic. The Duchenne Dash is a gruelling 24-hour bike ride from London to Paris to help children with DMD. It was to commence on the 12th June and arrive a day later, under the Eiffel Tower. We have now committed to undertaking a minimum of 300km during May which is the distance of the Dash. The distance is to be undertaken on the lanes around our homes sticking to the government guidelines. As well as the 300km we are to cover a further 100km on the 13th June, the day we should have arrived in Paris.[/p][p]Two families a week in the UK are told that their child has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, it is the most common genetic killer of children worldwide.[/p][p]Duchenne UK are an ambitious and highly focused charity, investing millions of pounds in research right now to bring treatments and a cure to help this generation.[/p][p]Please help us to END DUCHENNE.[/p][p]Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to Duchenne UK. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity's behalf where the donor is eligible for this. I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.[/p]