<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am running the London Marathon in 2012 for the first time, in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. My dad has been living with the disease for more than 30 years which is why I've chosen to support this charity. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the leading organisation in the fight against muscle disease, by:</p> <ul> <li>funding world-class <a title="research" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/research">research</a> to find effective treatments and cures</li> <li>providing free <a title="practical and emotional support" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/how_we_help_you/care_and_support">practical and emotional support</a></li> <li><a title="campaign " href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/get_involved/campaigns">campaigning </a>to raise awareness and bring about change for disabled people</li> <li><a title="award grants" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/how_we_help_you/equipment_grants">awarding grants</a> towards the cost of specialist equipment, such as powered wheelchairs</li> </ul> <p>There is currently no cure for muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Campaign relies almost entirely on voluntary donations and legacies to fund its work. The association invests over &pound;1 million a year in pioneering research and support.</p> <ul> <li>More than 70,000 children and adults in the UK have a type of muscle disease or related condition supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign</li> <li>The severity of the muscle conditions varies enormously - for the most severe disorders children can die at birth or in their first year of life. Other people live with the disease for normal length lives but with increasing disability as the disease&nbsp;gradually affects all the muscles in the body including the heart and lungs.</li> </ul> <p>Thank you very much for supporting me. I will be very grateful for even the smallest donation that helps me towards my target.</p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;35</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> funds an hour of <a title="Research" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/research">research</a> that could lead us to a treatment&nbsp;or cure to improve and lengthen people's lives.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;50</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> gives parents one hour with a <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">specialist physiotherapist</span></span></strong></strong> who can show them the valuable muscle-stretching techniques that could keep their child walking for longer.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;55</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> funds a Muscular Dystrophy Campaign <a title="Care Advisors" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/how_we_help_you/care_and_support/care_advisors">Care Advisor </a>for 1 hour, in which they can give the <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">practical and emotional support</span></span></strong></strong> needed by children and adults immediately after a diagnosis.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;148</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> funds for one day&nbsp;the cost of our freephone Information Line so staff can provide <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">vital support</span></span></strong></strong> to families and healthcare professionals on a wide range of conditions and issues.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;900</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> allows the <a title="Equipment grants (JPT)" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/how_we_help_you/equipment_grants">Joseph Patrick Trust (JPT)&nbsp;</a>to make a grant towards the cost of a child's <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">powered wheelchair.</span></span></strong></strong></span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;1,875</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> funds staff with <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">specialist knowledge</span></span></strong></strong> of muscle disease - including occupational therapy, support and expert medical advice - at one of our <a title="Muscle centres" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/how_we_help_you/care_and_support/muscle_centres">muscle centres </a>for a week.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;2,000</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> covers the running costs of a muscle centre for a week, <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">providing diagnosis and multi-disciplinary care</span></span></strong></strong>.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;10,000</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> funds two months of <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">pioneering research</span></span></strong></strong> into the causes of and treatments for muscle disease.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;20,000</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> funds a fun <a title="Family weekends" href="http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/how_we_help_you/care_events/family_weekends">Family Weekend</a>, <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">providing respite, expert advice and companionship</span></span></strong></strong> for children and adults with muscle disease and their loved ones.</span></span></p> <p class="yiv353801263MsoNormal"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&pound;100,000</span></span></strong></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> supports a research student through their PhD, <strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">encouraging the brightest&nbsp;young scientists</span></span></strong></strong> to stay in the field of neuromuscular research.</span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>