We are so delighted to support Louisa Hill in her campaign to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a life-limiting condition affecting her son Archie (Aged 9) which causes his muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasingly severe disability.
Local lady Louisa from Chalfont St Peter is the sister of our recommended electrical contractor and good friend Danny Young, who, alongside his sister and friend Trisha Duffy, walked more than 100k from London to Brighton on Saturday 24th May 2014.
Louisa, Danny & Trisha set out on foot from Richmond Park at 9am and walked through the day & night to reach Brighton racecourse at noon 27 hours later, having covered 62 miles, raising more than £5,000 for the Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund, set up by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to develop treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The charity funds groundbreaking research into muscular dystrophy and related conditions and supports the 70,000 families in the UK affected by them.
Louisa said:
“It was tough. We walked continually for 27 hours through torrential rain, wind and mud, in dark and damp conditions. Travelling through woods and across uneven terrain by torchlight was very challenging and tiring. We suffered from blisters, aches and exhaustion – you would not want to see me trying to get over stiles after the 50k mark! I’ve run marathons before, but at 80K I almost felt like giving up.”
“Still, thinking of Archie drove me on. It was worth every step knowing it was raising vital funds to develop treatments that could help my son and other children like him.”
“We are delighted to have raised £5,000, people have been so generous. My husband Gary and I are now planning a golf day that will take place this September. We really need people’s support, and if there are any local businesses out there who can help us with auction or raffle prizes, please do get in touch.”
Muscular dystrophy
- More than 70,000 children and adults in the UK have muscular dystrophy or a related neuromuscular condition. A further 350,000 people are affected indirectly as family, friends or carers.
- Muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions cause muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing disability. The conditions may affect not only the muscles in the limbs, but also those of the heart and lungs, sometimes significantly shortening life-expectancy.
Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the leading UK charity fighting muscle-wasting conditions, dedicated to beating muscular dystrophy and other related neuromuscular conditions by finding treatments and cures and to improving the lives of everyone affected by them.
Their work has five main focuses:
- Funding world-class research to find effective treatments and cures
- Providing practical information, advice and emotional support for individuals with muscular dystrophy and other related neuromuscular conditions, their carers and families
- Campaigning to bring about change and raise awareness of muscular dystrophy and other related neuromuscular conditions
- Awarding grants towards the cost of specialist equipment, such as powered wheelchairs
- Providing specialist education and development for health professionals.
Those wishing to support Louisa, Danny and Trisha can do so by visiting:
www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Louisa-Hill
For more information about the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and how you can help, please contact Paul Tomlinson, Volunteer Fundraising Manager on 020 8688 9373, or email p.tomlinson@muscular-dystrophy.org or visit www.muscular-dystrophy.org
Danny Young & Louisa Hill