Bridge lights up for awareness
MERSEY Gateway Bridge was lit up in red on September 7 in honour of World Duchenne Awareness Day.
The lighting was organised by local dad Matthew McCormick-Hughes, whose son Arthur has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), to raise awareness of this little-known but devastating condition.
DMD is a genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, mainly affecting boys. It causes all the muscles in the body to progressively weaken, including the heart and lungs, leading to a gradual loss of mobility and a shortened life expectancy. In the UK, there are around 2,500 people affected and around 300,000 worldwide.
World Duchenne Awareness Day took place on September 7, led by the World Duchenne Organisation. The day aimed to increase global awareness of the impact of the disease on the lives of the individuals and families affected.
Arthur, who is now seven, was diagnosed with the condition in March 2020. His classmates at St Michael’s Catholic Primary School in Widnes wore red to mark World Duchenne Awareness Day and will be raising money for Duchenne UK.
His dad Matthew said: “Arthur is my little hero, not letting anything phase him. He is the strongest person I know, a lot stronger than me and his mum.
“I really hope that by getting the bridge lit up for World Duchenne Awareness Day, I can reach as many people as possible to make them aware of this dreadful condition.”
There is no cure for DMD, but there is hope for better, more effective treatments on the horizon. To help boys like Arthur, you can make a donation to Duchenne UK, the UK’s leading DMD charity.
To find out more about World Duchenne Awareness Day, visit https://www. worldduchenneday.org/