Phil Simpson
Phil’s page
Fundraising for Duchenne UK
Story
Story
In 2017, one of our colleagues found out that both his sons, Owen and George, have Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is a progressive condition diagnosed in childhood, which affects 1 in 3500 boys, and which causes all the muscles in the body to gradually weaken. There is currently no cure, but there is hope, and Owen and George's parents started Project GO as a family fund to raise funds for Duchenne UK, the leading UK charity funding medical research into Duchenne and accelerating access to treatment.
As most of us look forward to seeing our children thrive and become independent, Owen and George will face a different future as their strength deteriorates and the disease progresses. There is always hope, and Owen and George are desperate to have the opportunity to benefit from emerging treatments currently being researched. As they wait, they continue to lose muscle and function which they can never recover. Just a couple of months ago, the first boy was enrolled in a new UK gene therapy trial, but progress is slow and spaces are limited due to the costs and complexity of the study.
We have found a fitting challenge to help their charity. We have resurrected the (now aging) Royal College of Surgeons Rugby team to come together for an attempt to manhandle a muckle whisky cask to the summit of Lochnagar, a Munro near Balmoral, on Saturday 30th April 2022.
We thought it would allow all of us to walk in the boys’ shoes for a few hours and experience what it might feel like for George and Owen when they do things that we take for granted, like climbing stairs or mucking about with their school friends.
Our goal is to raise £20,000 for Project GO and Duchenne UK. Together we will raise awareness and bring real hope to families affected by this cruel disease. Thank you so much for your support.
Project GO supports Duchenne UK a charity that has one clear aim to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). 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.
