Olympians

Watching the winter Olympics in China and constantly impressed with the athletes and their x-factor.

The athletes earning my most respect are the paraplegic Olympians. The back stories about what they have gone through to overcome terrible accidents or disabilities to compete on the world stage … wow … truly inspirational.

Unlike the young people with Duchenne, the paraplegics get stronger the more they work. The Duchenne-afflicted are getting weaker, regardless of how much they work.

All the dedication in the world will not rid their bodies of the dream killer … unless it is the renewed and sustained dedication of the researchers, clinicians, doctors, and funding sources that remain totally focused on curing, or at least mitigating, Duchenne sooner rather than later.

Idea: What if we conspicuously notice and reward the Duchenne warriors in the labs, non-profits, and medical facilities who are going the extra mile to cure Duchenne. Name them. Rate them. Explain their good work in normal terms. Celebrate each breakthrough, no matter how small it may seem at the time.

Encourage the public to follow progress in research. Teach the basic science in secondary schools. Have young folks with Duchenne speak at assemblies. Tell folks what we need most … prioritization of research and funding.

Duchenne constituents … take the top podium. You deserve it!

Kindly yours,

Papa in Franklin