CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – On Saturday, Sept. 26,
the MIT football program will join thousands of coaches in support
of Coach to Cure MD, a national charity project of the American
Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Thousands of coaches
nationwide in all levels of collegiate football will come together
to raise awareness and research funding for Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy, the most prolific genetic killer diagnosed in
childhood.
AFCA members will wear a “Coach to Cure MD” logo patch
on the sidelines and college football fans are encouraged to donate
to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular
Dystrophy, the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused
entirely on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
“With MIT’s academic research mission, this is a
project we felt we needed to get behind as a staff,” said
head coach Chad Martinovich. “Although it’s a very
small thing we’re doing, we hope by raising people’s
awareness the donations will grow so someday soon a cure can be
found for this disorder.”
Football fans can donate to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research by
either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word
“CURE” to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be
added to your next phone bill and standard text message rates
apply).
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic
disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys
across all races and cultures. Boys and young men with Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy develop progressive muscle weakness that
eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a
decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no
cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and limited therapeutic
options exist.
About
AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association was founded in 1922 and
is considered the primary professional association for football
coaches at all levels of competition. The 10,000-member
organization includes more than 90 percent of head coaches at the
700-plus schools that sponsor football at the college level.
Members include coaches form Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, and
Mexico.
About
PPMD
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national
not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children
with Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy. The
organization’s mission is to improve the treatment, quality
of life and long-term outlook for all individuals affect by
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through research, advocacy, education
and compassion. PPMD is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio with
offices in Fort Lee, N.J. For more information, visit www.parentprojectmd.org.