The Duchenne Dash at Home invited everyone to take on a challenge of their choice, to be achieved in their own way and to be carried out in their home or wherever they fancied. This year was the 10^th anniversary of the charity and so it was suggested that participants, colleagues, family, children and friends, try involving the number 10 in their challenge.  

Eileen's challenge

Due to an on-going hip problem a physical challenge wasn’t a sensible option, so Eileen thought she’d try her hand at being creative and sketch/paint ten birds. Although Eileen started to try her hand at sketching a year ago, she has never tried watercolour painting. It is hoped that the efforts below will bring some smiles, even laughter, but more importantly a few pounds – not for Eileen but for Duchenne UK.

Eileen says: “It was a difficult challenge, but an enjoyable one. I
attempted a lot of birds but many were unrecognisable. For instance, my bullfinch looked like a giant, distorted and oddly coloured penguin! What larks! (see what I did there!)  I actually loved making time and space for this challenge which sort of turned into a project, listening to various podcasts along the way, something I may not have done had I not taken up this challenge.  It also coincided with Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme being ‘loneliness’.  It created an opportunity to connect better with family - thanks goes to my Brother and Sister who supported me in my creative endeavours.”

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating muscle-wasting disease. It is the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy. Diagnosed in childhood, it mainly affects boys. Started by families affected by the disease, Duchenne UK is the leading DMD charity in the UK: connecting the best researchers with industry, the NHS and families to advance and accelerate every stage of drug development. Together, we will end Duchenne.