Who you are helping

 We could tell you ourselves about all the things we at the charity are doing and what we have achieved, but we would rather let families tell you in their own words why research into muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions is so important.

Justine tells us about her son's dream

A few weeks before Christmas, we were sitting round our kitchen table when Sebastian, my eldest, volunteered a dream he'd had the night before - that the whole world was made of chocolate - the trees, the houses, everything! 

"I had a dream that I could fly over the tree tops and visit everyone,' added Nancy, my eight-year-old daughter. We sat in silence for a while, thinking about a chocolatey world and flying when Benedict, my five-year-old, piped up, 'I had a wonderful dream too... I dreamed I could run."

My heart sank when Benedict shared his dream, because Benedict can't run. He has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, which causes the muscles in his body to be very weak. And without a treatment or a cure, it's not likely that his dream of being able to run will ever come true.

Scientists are getting closer to treatments and cures. And with donations the cure is there - waiting to be found. I hope that a cure comes in Benedict's lifetime. It has to, because, without one, Benedict's dream of being able to run will never come true.

You can be a part of funding research into treatments and cures. Please make a donation today.

My brother was my best friend, says Hannah

Greg was my younger brother, by 18 months. He was born in 1986, and died in 2005, aged just 19 years. Without wanting to sound soppy, he was my best friend, we spent all our time at home together, and I feel that he could talk to me about his worries (generally and also about his condition) more than he could with anyone else. 

Both Greg and I grew up knowing everything about muscular dystrophy. Our parents believed that honesty was the best policy and that we were intelligent enough people to be able to understand what it meant. We both knew that Greg would not live a full lifetime, and was given a life expectancy of about 15 years. 

I hope there will come a time when no-one will have to have the disease and suffer its effects. Families such as mine won't be forced to remember people they have lost because medical science would have been able to cure them. I look forward to the day this becomes a reality. Unfortunately it's too late for Greg but I hope that a medical breakthrough is found soon.

Please help us continue to fund world-class research to find effective treatments and cures by donating online today.

My name is Patrick Bailly, I support the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign

My name is Patrick Bailly and, like you, I support the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. My son Pascal has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It's a disease which really makes you appreciate the simple things in life.

It's hard to think about, but we were told that as Pascal's condition progresses his muscles will become weaker and weaker. First he'll grow to depend on a wheelchair fulltime - this isn't far off now - and then, as his disease takes over, his internal organs will weaken too.

I used to watch Pascal playing with his old dog, Rosie, who he adored. It made my heart ache because I didn't know how much longer he'd be able to do that. Rosie sadly left us a few months ago, and the doctors told us that, in the foreseeable future, we'll lose Pascal too.

That's why I am doing everything I can to help raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's vital research because I want a treatment for Pascal, before it is too late.

Team Jed

In March 2008, when Jed was eight years old, he was diagnosed with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy which is a degenerative muscle-wasting condition that causes progressive muscle weakness, tightening and contractures in the muscles and limbs which leads to mobility and respiratory problems. Depending on the severity of the condition, many children are in wheelchairs in their early teens with debilitating mobility restrictions in early adulthood.

Jed is now 11 and his condition is progressive; though he is doing well, there still remains no treatment or cure. It limits everything he can do physically, from walking, running and any sporting activity to the daily struggle of going upstairs. He is an amazing little boy, whom despite the challenges facing him in life, lets nothing get in his way. His strength of character is awesome and he is known throughout his circle of friends for always having a smile on his face.

However, there is cause for hope on the horizon.  While a few years off, clinical trials may well yet play a part to treat Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy in Jed's lifetime. Research is the way forward and clinical trials hold the hopes for thousands affected by the condition. With the huge steps forward in medical science the priority must be funding research to discover a cure, preventative treatment or even a way of slowing down the symptoms or delaying the muscle-wasting.

A regular gift of just £5 a month can fund around two hours of research a year. Please make a donation today.