Our mission is to build a supportive community to help us end Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by raising money for ground-breaking research, spreading awareness, and providing aid to children and families with Duchenne.
Walking Strong Assistance Program helps Duchenne families with their overwhelming medical needs that are most often not covered by insurance.
The Duchenne Coaching Program is here for caregivers and patients 24/7 absolutely free.
(Pronounced “Du Shen”)
Duchenne is the most common fatal, genetic childhood disorder, which affects approximately 1 out of every 5,000 boys each year worldwide. It currently has no cure. Diagnosis occurs around 3 – 5 years of age, usually the first sign is muscle weakness and large calf muscles.
The Duchenne gene is found on the X- chromosome and occurs mostly in boys which progressively degenerates all their muscles over time including the heart and the lungs. It is carried through the mother and often times is a spontaneous mutation and does not run in the family. Duchenne does not discriminate and occurs within any racial, ethnic or economic background.
Walking Strong supports life-saving scientific research to the Center For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA who leads the nation in translational science focused on Duchenne and is the first comprehensive Duchenne clinic in the western United states. A leading group of UCLA scientists, clinicians and researchers is poised to achieve significant advances in research, clinical care and treatments for Duchenne that are improving, and will potentially extend, the lives of those afflicted.
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