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We are hiking to help raise vital funds to help find an effective treatment and cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through the Smile with Shiv Campaign. The event is taking place over 11th-13th of June 2016.

Team Members : Five keen fundraisers of this cause - Carina, Mala, Craig, Nayan and Reshma.

Our challenge is taking place in three Swiss cantons: Vaud, Neuchatel and Fribourg. We are aiming to do three hikes over three days. Each hike is rated as difficult by the local mountain information services.

Over the past few months, one of the team members has spent much time planning and vetting the routes (regardless of the wind, rain, sleet and snow), to ensure our safety as well as success in achieving what we have set out to do for Smile With Shiv. The rest of the team have been training hard, several times a week, to strengthen hamstrings and Achilles' tendons and build on cardio strength. Each of the three days will be long and require a high level of general stamina. 

Our motivation for doing this is borne from Shiv's sweet smile and the tenacity of his parents to beat this condition. Duchenne is a progressive muscle wasting condition which leaves those living with the condition in a wheelchair by the age of 12, followed by weakness in the upper body limiting usage of upper body to just fingers, followed by weakness in the lungs and heart leading to a premature death. Life expectancy for those living with the condition is only early to mid 20's. 

For the first time ever there is potential for treatments to be made available within the next few years, but essential funding is needed for research, to ensure clinical trials take place and to get the potential drugs to market as soon as they are made available and before it is too late for Shiv and other boys with this condition. 

100% of your generous donations will go directly into the MDUK's Duchenne Research breakthrough fund through the Smile with Shiv Fund. This will help Shiv and thousands of others living with this condition, please show your support for the team and give generously.

Please visit www.smilewithshiv.org

Much love, 

Carina, Mala, Craig, Nayan and Reshma. 

#smilewithshiv #fightduchenne #everydaycounts